9th Dec 2003 to 6th Jan 2004

Bound      By Western Blakehawke

Set after Freak Nation.  February 2023 

Sequel to Unwelcome Ties. Set around fourteen months after the events of the last chapter. 

Ames and Will come face to face again just over sixteen months after they first met.

Chapter 1

               7th February 2023

               Seattle.

               Night time.

               Will Wolfe, designation X0-378, dressed in her trademark black, complete with her black leather jacket, gloves and cowboy boots, hopped off the cargo aeroplane from Canada on which she had secreted herself earlier that day as the final part on her circumspect route to Seattle.

               She stealthily made her way from the runway and exited the municipal airport, only some of the guard dogs spotted her and they abided by her telepathic wishes and did not acknowledge her presence.

               Will paused long enough to use her cell phone to call home and tell her children and family that she had safely arrived and that she would be home as soon as possible, for security reasons she had decided to limit all her calls to the bare minimum of words and would only call home every few days.

               Will then phoned Alec and told him that she had just arrived and was on her way.

               She then swiftly made her way through the streets on her way to the place where she had arranged to meet Alec and another Transgenic.

               The moon was playing hide and go seek with the clouds.

               Will used her excellent night vision to navigate the back streets and alleyways. She paused and sniffed the air, her nostrils flared as they were filled with a familiar sent then she was attacked from behind.

               The attacker, Special Agent in Charge Ames White, had his arms around her in a steel tight grip, he was crushing her.

               Will reacted instinctively, dropped her holdall and flipped forward onto her hands, kicking her legs up like a bucking bronco, the incredibly powerful momentum propelled Ames over her head, he flipped over in mid air so that his feet were beneath him, just before he crashed into a wall, hitting his head, but he was instantly back on his feet not even dazed by the impact.

               Will's life was actually threatened by one of Sandemann's descendants, knowing how Ames felt about him, Sandemann had altered Will's programming so that she could defend herself from those she was born to protect, should her life be seriously threatened, the incident in the woods did not meet the stringent requirements that Sandemann had set in place, this situation did leaving Will unhindered and able to act.

               Will automatically shifted into a fighting stance, as Ames charged her, gun forgotten in the heat of battle.

               The moon appeared from behind the clouds and Will's face was bathed in moonlight.

               Ames halted in his tracks, right leg raised mid kick. "Wi.. 378?" Ames uttered in shock. What's she doing back here?

               Will still in a fighting stance watched the Familiar warily. "Yes Ames." She casually replied.

               Ames slowly lowered his right leg and assumed a more natural posture, though he was ready to attack should the need arise. "Is Ray with you?"

               "No he and the others are safe at home." Will responded calmly.

               "Alone?" Ames asked harshly. "You left my son, my seven year old son to fend for himself!"

               Ames obviously used his son's true age rather than the age that Will had made him, she had made Ray older by a few months to hide him, so that to anyone who met him now Ray said he was eight and that he was called Jay which was short for James.

               Will rolled her eyes. "Of course not! One of my siblings is minding them!" She decided it was safer security wise to only say one rather than seven.

               Ames narrowed his eyes. "494?" I don't care if Ray calls him uncle! I wouldn't leave him in charge of a goldfish!

               "No, no one you know." Will quickly and calmly assured him. "Ray's perfectly safe."

               The clouds had become bored playing hide and go seek with the moon and decided to release their rain, not as a light shower but as a major downpour.

               "Ames can we finish this discussion inside?" Will asked sarcastically, water pouring down her face. "I'm part wolf not fish! And I'm not in the mood to start singing and dancing in the rain!"

               Ames was also soaked in the sudden downpour, his coat was open and had not offered much protection, and his dark blue suit was clinging to him like a second skin.

               "My car's just over there." He replied pointing behind himself with his right thumb over his right shoulder, he did not take his eyes off 378. What is it with her and film and television references?              

               "Fine, I'll lead the way." Will stated, as she used her right foot to toss her holdall into the air, caught it with her left hand and casually moved past him in the direction he had indicated.

               Ames thought for a couple of seconds then moved so that he was abreast of her as they swiftly made their way to his car. She's wearing a wedding ring! Ray never mentioned that she got married! "When did you get married?" He growled. Ray better not call him Dad!

               Will glanced at him and grinned. "Relax Ames Ray doesn't have a father figure, the only father he has is you! The ring was from my marriage, I'm playing a widow, well technically I am a widow." She shrugged her right shoulder. "The ring's just part of the cover."

               Ames relieved just nodded. Good! Bad enough she's playing his mother I don't want Ray getting a new father too!

               They reached his car and quickly got in.

               "What are you doing in Seattle?" Ames started the interrogation as soon as 378 had closed her car door. Stupid freak! This is the last place you should be!

               "I needed to see one of my kin." Will replied blandly as she shrugged her right shoulder.

               "You left Ray for a family reunion!" Ames snapped incredulously. "You said you'd protect him with your life, but you left him so you can gossip with some freak!" Why the hell did I trust her!

               "Not exactly!" Will replied and glared at him. "I didn't travel all this way, to the worst place on the planet for Transgenics for pleasure!"

               "Then why?!" Ames pretty much yelled in response. I should be cuffing her and hauling her to H.Q. where I can find out where Ray is! Why am I chatting with her?

               Will just looked at him, obviously deciding what to tell him, finally. "Well I could hardly explain my unusual genetic history to any of the local doctors now could I!"              

               "Doctor? Transgenics don't get sick!" Ames snarled at her, still fuming that she had left Ray.

               "I didn't say I was sick!" Will growled at him.

               "Then why do you need a doctor?" Ames yelled.

               "None of your damn business!" Will shouted at him, she then bared her teeth.

               "The hell it isn't!" Ames snarled at her. "You're my son's mother!"

               Will froze, her sarcastic reply stopped short by Ames' words.

               Ames realised what he had just said and he and Will looked at each other in shock.             

               Will recovered first, her lips began to twitch and soon a grin appeared, then she started to giggle uncontrollably.

               Ames glared at her. "How much sugar have you had!" Great that's all I need being stuck with a hyper freak!

               Will spoke through her giggle fit. "Not enough! It's not sugar! It's hormones!"

               Ames looked totally confused. "Hormones?" What the hell is going on?

               With an effort Will regained control and nodded. "Yes hormones, part of the reason I need to speak with one of the medically trained Transgenics."

               "If you think that I'm letting you go, then you're crazier than C.J!" Ames bluntly informed her scowling.

               "How is he?" Will asked not fazed in the least by what Ames had just said or his scowl.

               "Still alive!" Ames grouched.

               "Good!" Will grinned at him.              

               "Last time we talked you were consoling me that I'd get another chance to accidentally on purpose kill him." Ames sarcastically pointed out. Make up your damn mind!              

               "Yes, and as I also said, I had a downer on younger brothers at the time, because of Alec's dumb joke." Will calmly reminded him.

               "Ray's mentioned it a couple of times in our phone conversations." Ames sighed. 494 dies slow!

               "Be thankful you only get earache from one child, I get it from all of them!" Will drolly responded and rolled her eyes.

               Will had lied she only got hassle from her thirty eight older kids, the younger X9's and the X10's of course could not really hassle her, because they were either too young or much easier to distract, but Ames did not know that she now had forty six kids including X9's and X10's. Or the fact that his son had also enlisted his older cousins, now resident on the farm with their parents, in his campaign. Meaning that of the seventy eight children living on the farm, she got bugged by fifty eight of them.

               They exchanged long suffering looks.              

               "You still haven't fully explained why you're here." Ames suavely reminded 378. I don't distract easily!

               Will looked at him and scowled. "Damn, you're as bad as I am!" She grouched.

               "3 7 8 why are you in Seattle!" Ames ground out.

               "Because I'm pregnant." She bluntly replied.

               "What!" Ames asked shocked. Pregnant?!

               "You heard!" Will snapped as she glared at him.

               "So you lied!" Ames snarled. Idiot! Never trust a freak!

               "No I flaming well didn't!" Will yelled at him.

               "Sterilization means you can't get pregnant!" Ames sarcastically pointed out.

               "Gee it does who'd have thought!" Will replied heatedly with equal sarcasm.

               "I want an honest answer!" Ames yelled and grabbed Will on her forearms, his face mere inches from hers. "Tell me the truth!"               

               "Truth! Okay you want the truth!" Will snarled. "I'm telepathic with canines and mostly canines! Eleven days ago I sensed the minds of four, four babies in my abdomen! I can't have kids, I don't have a womb, I don't menstruate and I haven't had sex for over three bleeding years and to my knowledge I aint a hermaphrodite!" She glared and scowled at him.

               Ames could tell that she was being absolutely honest with him and shocked he released her arms and just sat looking at her for a couple of minutes, absorbing these new and startling revelations. Pregnant! Quads! I know she's part wolf but this is ridiculous! ………. She's telepathic with canines?

               Will just sat in silence and continued to glare and scowl at him.

               "Do the kids know?" Ames finally queried in a pleasant tone. What the hell did that senile old fool do to her?

               "Yes, I decided that it was best to be honest with 'em." Will replied still annoyed with him.

               "Ray didn't say anything last night." Ames informed her. Quads! She's not showing! I wonder how far gone she is?

               "Because I asked them not to mention it, that it was nobody else's business!" Will archly responded.

               "How did they take the news?" Ames asked still being civil, not perturbed by Will's frostiness. She's taking it a hell of a lot better than I would!

               "They are overjoyed at the idea of four new brothers!" Will sulked.

               "Brothers?" Ames queried. She knows the gender?

               "Yes! Two sets of identical twin boys!" Will snapped.

               "So Ray gets four new siblings." Ames blandly stated. Why does Ray calling Transgenics siblings no longer bother me?             

               "They're already planning the nursery and Ray keeps giving me lists of names that he's come up with." Will grouched.

               Ames grinned. "What names does he like?"

               Will just glared at him. "Aren't you supposed to be taking me to N.S.A H.Q?"

               "Now why would I want to do that?" Ames replied grinning at her, at her tactic to get him to quit questioning her.

               "Oh I don't know, 'cause it's your job maybe!" Will snapped at him. "I liked you better when we were fighting!"              

               "Are the quads okay?" Ames asked with genuine concern as he instinctively reached out to touch her abdomen. "Any idea how far along you are?"

               Will moved out of reach and just looked at him in astonishment.  "You must have hit your head a hell of a lot harder than I thought!"

                "Why 'cause I'm being nice to you?" Ames queried smiling pleasantly as he pulled his hand back and returned it to his lap. Never thought I'd ever like one of Father's freaks, but I can't help it, Ray's right we are a lot alike!              

               "Yes! Look Ames my life is weird enough without your going Doctor Jekyll on me!" Will replied exasperated.

               Ames burst out laughing. She's funny!

               Will made a move to get out of the car whilst Ames was distracted by his mirth. Ames swiftly hit the door locks and brought his laughter under control.

               "Uh, uh naughty!" Ames said wagging a finger at her and grinning.  This is fun!

               "You know Ames we should get you to the E.R at Harbour Lights you are definitely showing signs of a head trauma." Will told him with a glare.

               "I'm fine." Ames informed her grin beginning to fade. "So how far along are you?"

               "How the heck should I know?" Will snapped. "I don't menstruate remember! Idiot male!"

               Ames glared at her. "I'm not an idiot! I thought since you could sense them that you might have some idea of their developmental age!"

               "I have nothing to compare them to!" Will sarcastically reminded him.

               Ames swiftly moved forward and Will as swiftly pushed herself back against the door, Ames ignored her and leant awkwardly through the gap in the front seats for his laptop case on the back seat.

               He retrieved his laptop and returned to sitting comfortably in the driver's seat, he swiftly removed the laptop from the case, after setting the case on the dashboard he turned on his laptop and typed in X0-378.

               Will moved back into her original position then seeing what Ames had typed she leant across the handbrake so that she could see the laptop's screen.

               Ames unhesitatingly angled the screen so that Will could see it. "The files we managed to retrieve from Manticore are fragmented at best." He told her. "Your file did not state either that you had been sterilised or married, as you can see there isn't much useful data." Why am I helping her?

               The downpour had let up and had turned into a very light drizzle.

               Will quickly scanned what little was there and shifted back into her seat. "You haven't found Sandemann?"  She queried, not sounding at all hopeful.

               "If I had I'd have kept our bargain." Ames drolly pointed out as he turned off the laptop and returned it to its case he left it on the dashboard.

               "Yeah……. He's the only one who can fully explain what he did to me, I doubt he told Deck, not after his reaction to the news that I'd been sterilised." Will sighed.

               Ames was about to respond when a gun butt smashed through the window right by his face, making them both jump, before Ames had time to react the hand holding the gun quickly flipped it so that the muzzle was now aimed at Ames' throat.

               "You okay Will?" Alec asked not taking his eyes of the Familiar.

               "I'm fine why wouldn't I be!" Will snapped and glared at him.

               "What! You were caught by Ames, I rescued you! Why are you mad at me?" Alec asked in hurt bewilderment.

               "It's her hormones Alec, they make pregnant women do funny things, have mood swings, pregnant Transgenics are even worse, their animal DNA makes them uh…. more prone to anger, violence, than weeping hysterically." A gentle female voice explained. "Hi Will we spoke on the phone, I'm Asia." The slightly Asian looking young woman said as she hunkered down next to Will's window.

               "Hi." Will snapped and glared at the younger woman. "So did anything in the records we've got tell you what the heck is going on!"

               "Ah Will, Ames!" Alec reminded his sister.

               "Too late freak, I know she's pregnant!" Ames told 494 smugly. "And you're paying for that window!" I don't care if Ray loves him, he's dead!

               "You told him!" Alec yelped shocked.

               "Yes! Now get in the car the pair of you and Alec put that blinking revolver away!" Will ordered. "Ames unlock the damn doors!"

               "I'd do as she says it's not wise to upset pregnant women, especially those who are part wolf." Ames grinned at Alec as he unlocked the car doors. Yep she's a lot like me!

               "But Will.." Alec started to vehemently object.

               "Now!" Will snapped.

               Asia got in the car and Alec reluctantly followed putting away his revolver as ordered.

               Ames just sat there, he planned on letting the Transgenics do the talking, he was unconcerned with the fact that he now had two Transgenics behind him, even with the fact that 494 was armed. They obviously obey Will even when it's against their better judgement, well on this issue anyway. Was his thought, his eyes never strayed from Will. This should be interesting!

              "Well!" Will asked as they shut the doors.

               "Nothing, I'm sorry." Asia replied shaking her head slightly for emphasis.

               "Well that's just great!" Will stated sarcastically. "What the hell was wrong with Sandemann! Why couldn't he keep detailed records! Senile old fool!" She ranted. "Zilch with our files and the N.S.A's, I told him to keep detailed files, but no that's to frelling sensible!" 

               "Will please calm down, getting stressed is bad for the babies!" Asia pleaded.

               "I am calm! I haven't smashed anything! That was Alec!" Will snapped as she turned in her seat to glare at Asia.

               "She's right you know you have to calm down!" Ames ordered. This is weird! Very weird!

               "I hate agreeing with Ames Will but either get a grip or I knock you out!" Alec warned her.

               "You and what army!" Will replied sarcastically as she glared at him.

               "Me!" Ames unthinkingly responded. "So be a good wolf and settle down!" What am I doing!

               "C'mon sis, don't make me and Ames work together to subdue you! It aint natural!" Alec pleaded.

               Will looked from Alec to Ames to Asia and back to Ames. "I'm gonna remember this!" She sulked but got a grip on her tantrum.

               "We're going to drive you to a clinic for a sonogram and tests." Asia gently told Will. "We have a vehicle waiting."

               "She's in my custody freak, she isn't leaving my sight!" Ames announced stubbornly and turned and glared at the two transgenics on the back seat.

               "Tests! I hate tests!" Will yelped. "I'm not taking any! Had too many blinking medical tests in my lifetime! 'Sides I'm under arrest so you can't make me take any stupid tests!"

               "These are standard tests Will." Asia spoke soothingly. "A sonogram to see how old the children are and if they're developing okay and blood pressure and a diabetes test…….."

               "Don't care!" Will interrupted her and made to leave the car.

               Ames quickly grabbed hold of her arm. "Don't make me cuff you to the seat!" He threatened. Why the hell didn't I cuff her earlier!

               "Will please co operate!" Alec pleaded again with a beseeching look. "Don't make me side with Ames!"

               "We need to do the tests Will, you know why, we all do!" Asia gently but bluntly informed her.

               "Your hormones are making you irrational do you really think that we would do anything to harm you or your babies?" Ames asked her.  I can't believe I'm doing this! If the Conclave ever finds out I'm dead!

               "Hello! Trying to exterminate all my kind!" Will replied sarcastically then grinned at him. "Geeez I hate this, my stupid hormones are all over the place, I'm not thinking straight! Okay I'll take the dumb tests, if I try and bolt knock me out or cuff me!"              

               "Great you're back to being you!" Alec said extremely relieved. "Okay let's transfer you to our vehicle before you can change your mind!"

               "I told you 494, 378 does not leave my sight!" Ames snapped at him as he flipped the locks on the doors.

               "Fine Ames you drive us to a clinic." Will calmly and casually ordered as she did up her seat belt and made herself comfortable for the drive. "And you can stay and watch the tests."

               "But…." Alec started to object.

               "494 just because my son loves you don't think that means that I won't happily kill you, especially since you told Ray and the others that dumb joke and they keep trying to get Will and myself to agree!" Ames coldly warned the Transgenic, not realising that he had called Will by name and not by number.              

               The three Transgenics also missed the fact, because they too were distracted by the argument at hand.

               "Joke?" Asia queried confused as she too buckled up.

               "Don't ask!" Will replied. "It's a lo……."

               "You told him you've got Ray! Are you completely insane!" Alec yelled over her reply.

               "I've known that Will has Ray for over a year, ever since she let Ray call me on my birthday!" Ames smugly told Alec. "I know that she has three X8 and four X6 kids as well!" He smoothly started up his car and they started to drive off.

               Again no one spotted Ames' automatic use of Will, rather than 378.

              

               Playing chauffer! Ames refrained from rolling his eyes with an effort. Okay if anyone finds out I can say I did this as research after all The Conclave needs to know if Transgenic females are programmed to reproduce without mates…. They don't need to know that I did it because Ray considers Will to be his mother, so her children are his siblings……..

               "Will how coul…….." Alec started to whine.

               "Alec belt up!" Will snapped.

               "No! You are my sister I have a………"

               "Seat belt you idiot!" Will replied as she turned to grin at him.

               "What….. Oh!" Alec looked at her nonplussed then what she meant finally sank in and he did up his seat belt, looking sheepish.

               "Thank you!" Will stated and turned back in her seat. "Oh and Alec my kids my responsibility my choice! End of subject!"

               "But….."

               "Alec you heard what Asia said, I'm not to be upset!" Will sweetly told him. "Ames you got any candy?" She asked as she began to root around in the glove compartment, her nostrils flared. "I smell chocolate!"

               Will swiftly zeroed in on the beguiling sent, unhitched her seat belt, leant across the hand break and totally uncaring that it was dangerous half lay on Ames' lap so that she could get at the chocolate in his coat pocket on the door side.

               "Damn it! Move back into your damn seat and I'll give you the damn bar!" Ames grouched at her. "I thought you were big on wearing a blinking seat belt!" Goddess help me! Pregnant women are insane!           

               Will ignored him and stuck her hand into his inside coat pocket "Mmmmm chocolate!" She grinned as she quickly slid off his lap and returned to her seat, clicked in her seat belt and opened the wrapper of the large bar and began happily and slowly savouring each square of milk chocolate, as she relaxed in the seat with her eyes closed.

               Asia and Alec had just watched Will's antics in shocked silence. They knew better than to come between a Transgenic and candy and Will had already proven to be hormonally bad tempered, so it was far safer to do nothing.

               "This is crazy!" Alec strenuously objected after a couple of minutes, the other three ignored him so he contented himself with unloading and reloading his revolver.

               Twelve minutes later.

               It was still lightly raining. Ames and Will were still very damp from being caught in the earlier downpour.

               Ames pulled the car up near the clinic that Asia had told him they had chosen.

               Alec quit playing with his revolver and pointed it at Ames head. "This is as far as you go pal! Thanks for the lift!"

               Alec made to knock Ames out as he spoke Will grabbed his arm in a vice like grip.

               "No!" She sternly ordered.

               Alec looked at her like she was crazy.         

               "Do you know how long it takes a Familiar to recover from being knocked out, 'cause I sure don't! It's safer for us if he tags along!" Will informed her brother and Asia then released Alec's arm and got out of the car and stretched, she was carrying her holdall.

               "You're insane!" Alec told her irritated but he re holstered his gun and climbed out of the car.

               Asia and Ames followed suit without a word, Ames wore a cocky grin.

               Alec took charge of the situation. "Okay there are only security personal on site, our people have fixed the alarms and cameras, so we just need to avoid the Ordinaries." He looked at Will in concern. "Our entrance point is a window two storeys up………"

               "Fine lead the way." Will told him.

               Alec looked like he wanted to say something, but he thought better of it and just swiftly and stealthily led the two Transgenics and one Familiar to the chosen window.

               Alec quickly climbed to the window and quietly called down. "Ames boost Will, I'll catch her."

               Ames unthinkingly moved to do as Alec asked and got a growl, bared teeth and a glare from Will, who bent her legs slightly and casually leapt the two storeys to the ledge.

               "I'm pregnant! Not incapable!" She snarled at them then entered the clinic.

               Ames easily leapt the two storeys and followed Will inside. Why am I doing this?

               Asia quickly climbed the building and soon all four of them were standing in the clinic.

               "Where now?" Ames queried. Following a freak's instructions! Maybe Will's right maybe I did do some damage when I hit my head!

               "This way, follow me." Alec replied and he swiftly led them through the maze of corridors to the Obstetrics and Gynaecological department.              

               Will had a sulky look on her face. "This place smells like Manticore!" She complained. "Stupid wolf genes! Why'd my sense of smell have to be so good."

               The others decided it was better not to engage Will in this particular conversation, preferring not to get snarled at.             

               Asia was looking in each of the examination rooms, to find one that already contained a scanning machine, finding one she came back over and escorted them to it. She made sure that Will entered first then barred the way before the males could follow.

               "I'll give Will a full examination, before I scan and test her, so you two wait out here!" She quietly but firmly ordered before shutting the door.

               Ames and Alec looked at each other then took up positions, near the room but as far away from each other as possible. Ames stood leaning against a wall, Alec lounged on some seats. Both looked to be either seated or stood casually, but each had recognized in the other, the fact that that casual pose was an illusion, both were ready to attack. Neither would take their eyes off the other.

               There was complete silence for a few minutes all that could be heard was the muted conversation from inside the examination room.

               Alec, never one to be silent for long, least not with certain people, started talking.  "So Ames was Wendy this bad when she was pregnant?"

               Ames glared at the Transgenic. Like I'm gonna answer that! Idiot! Me or him? Why haven't I killed him yet?!

               "Hey, you're the only father that I know, so tell me, I mean I know that Asia said that her behaviour is normal for an expectant Transgenic, but I'd like the view of someone else who's actually witnessed pregnancies!" Alec asked obviously worried about Will.

               "You're really worried about her!" Ames was incredulous. 494 worried about someone else? I know he couldn't kill the kid just took his barcode, but still………

               Alec glared at him. "Of course, she's my sister!"

               "Right one of how many!" Ames replied sarcastically.

               "My only known living biological sibling!" Alec retorted, angry and worried and not caring that he was giving the enemy useful information.

               "What?" Ames asked in surprise. He's her real brother I thought he was just another so called sibling?

               "We're too alike not to be related so one of the med types tested a sample that Will gave me before I left her and the kids and we share about twenty five percent of our human DNA." Alec replied, not thinking about it being Ames White that he was talking to, his mind to full with worrying about Will.

               Yeah they are alike! He's telling me stuff, but it's because he's distracted not because he doesn't care, like Will……….. Wait a minute why have I started calling her Will?

               Alec was looking at Ames obviously expecting an answer to his question.

               Ames looked at him and shrugged. "Wendy was not like 378, she tended to burst into tears, I'd rather have the anger!" The Conclave are gonna put me with C.J!

               Alec grinned at him. "Yeah, a weepy Will would be just plain weird!"

               An audible growl is heard coming from the examination room. "I'm pregnant not deaf!" Will grouched at them. "Stupid males!"

               A few minutes later.          

               Alec and Ames had reverted to silence again, and were just glaring at each other when Asia opened the door to the exam room.

               "Okay guys, you can come in now." She smiled at them.

               Both swiftly moved into the room and stood on either side of the bed on which Will was lying in her black sports bra and briefs totally unselfconscious about her state of undress, even in the presence of Ames White.

               Ames couldn't help himself he intently studied every inch of 378, his glanced stayed on her caduceus brand for a few moments then he finished his intent perusal. His dream of months earlier flashed into his mind. Scientific curiosity! Ames sternly told himself.  I am not attracted to her!

               Will glared at them both then returned to counting the stars that someone had painted on the ceiling.

               "So how is she, she doesn't look pregnant, where are they?" Ames started interrogating Asia.

               "She's fine, she has some slight bulges and even some Ordinaries never really show." Asia responded. "There are definitely four babies in there, I counted their heartbeats, she just carries them extremely well, must be her wolf DNA because all other X's show, but Will's the only one with wolf DNA."              

               "So it's not some weird sort of phantom pregnancy?" Alec asked relieved then disheartened, because the phantom option made more sense.

               "Unfortunately no!" Will sulked. "That's to bleeding simple! I hoped I'd been imagining 'em! Wolves have phantom pregnancies and that would have made a heck of a lot more sense!"

               "Will you need to calm down………. Breath." Asia told her and took deep calming breaths in an attempt to get Will to do the same.

               "I am breathing! If I wasn't I'd be dead!" Will responded with acid sarcasm and a glare at the annoying Transgenic. "Call yourself a doctor! Frelling idiot!"          

               "Just do the sonogram and the damn tests, before we get caught!" Ames ordered with a glare. I'm insane! Is it genetic?

               Asia, receiving a glare from Alec as well hurried to obey Ames' order. She quickly turned on the machine and moved it into position, causing Alec to move to the other side of the bed, next to Ames.  She swiftly rubbed some gel onto Will's abdomen then proceeded to scan.

               Ames and Alec were avidly watching the monitor Will was lying with her eyes closed.

               "There they are, one two three and four, you were right Will four boys two sets of identical twins." Asia informed her smiling as she studied the recorded images for a few moments. "They are perfectly fine healthy looking humans." She gently but firmly added.              

               At that announcement Will opened her eyes and finally looked at the screen. She grinned. "They're okay? Thank the force!" She was obviously utterly relieved.

               "Thank the force!" Alec echoed grinning as he and Will hugged in relief.              

               Ames grinned as well. Why am I grinning? Four new Transgenics! Conceived to a mother with no womb and without sex! Sheesh if this gets out it'll cause a religious hoo-hah! The Conclave are gonna crucify me!

               "Asia, tell me if I'm wrong, human biology was never my strong point, well not unless it had to do with how to kill someone, but it looks like everything that Sandemann removed has regenerated?" Will said studying the sonogram intently. "How is that possible? I don't recall him mentioning any salamander DNA in my genetic make up and I paid very close attention to those boring lectures!

               "You're right, if you had not have told me exactly what was done to you, I'd never have been able to tell from the scan. You look completely normal, no evidence of the procedure at all!" Asia shook her head in astonishment.

               "And why the frell didn't I get some warning, why no menstruation! More to the point how the hell am I pregnant! I haven't had sex in over three years or been kidnapped by aliens!" Will snarled getting agitated then she got a firm hold of her temper and took deep calming breaths.

               "I have absolutely no idea how any of this is possible!" Asia responded her quiet voice unnaturally loud at the evidence of a completely odd pregnancy and her inability to fathom out how it or the regeneration could possibly have occurred.

               Ames was also intently studying the scans. "How far along is she?" They look almost ready to be born! Yet she does not look pregnant! Wendy was huge with Ray yet Will's not showing with quads!

               "Well, from the looks of the boys, I'd say at least seven months." Asia informed them.

               Will shook her head. "Can't be! I've been going over all my memories for the past six months and I realised that I only began to notice odd sensations, which I'm assuming had something to do with the pregnancy because I have nothing else to account for 'em, in the last four months!"

               "Will, I trust your instincts about your own body, but these babies are the developmental stage for at least seven months gestation!" Asia firmly replied.

               Will looked thoughtful for a few moments. "You know none of the X0 series went to term, we were all born at around six months gestation…….. I was the only live birth, but the scientists figured the wolf DNA was a factor, because at six months gestation, I was born looking like a normal nine ten month gestation baby."

               "Wait a minute Will are you saying that because of your wolf DNA you could give birth anytime!" Alec yelped looking decidedly nervous.

               Will shrugged her right shoulder. "I think… I'm positive I've only been pregnant for four months, wolves give birth after two……"

               "Hmmmm yes I remember reading the information regarding the X0 series in the report you did on Manticore." Asia stated also looking thoughtful. "Yes your wolf DNA could definitely be playing a part here."

               "Can we please discuss this elsewhere?" Ames sarcastically asked. "Hurry up with the other damn tests!"

               "Okay, I'm going to do the amnio tests now, then blood pressure etcetera." Asia informed Will ignoring Ames.

               Twenty minutes later.

               Asia had carried out the other tests, those that were able to be viewed immediately all showed that Will was in peek physical condition, they would have to wait a couple of days for the other tests, since that was as soon as the Transgenic med techs could process the material.

               Asia carried the carefully packaged blood and amnio fluid.             

               Will quickly finished hauling on her clothes and joined the others in the hall, Alec handed her, her holdall which now contained the disk of her scan.

               "The kids will want to see the first pictures of their new brothers!" He quipped grinning.

               Will grinned back at him, much calmer since the scan showed normal healthy human babies.

               "Come on!" Ames ordered and motioned for the others to leave.

               Alec was about to argue then realising that Ames had a point led them back to the window they swiftly exited, no one made the mistake of offering to aid Will before she lightly jumped down from the two storey high ledge, landing perfectly and unconcernedly on her feet.

              They were soon back in Ames' car. Everyone got back into the same seats they had left. Will put on her seat belt, grabbed the half eaten chocolate bar and broke of another square and relaxed.

               Alec pulled out his cell phone and dialled. "Okay we're done, Will and the quads appear to be fine." He stated then hung up.

               "I need to get back so we can start testing the samples." Asia firmly stated in her quiet voice.                          

               "I'll drop you and 494 off where we met." Ames calmly informed them. Playing chauffer to freaks! What am I doing! I should be taking them to H.Q to be terminated!

              

               

               Ames started the car and pulled out, heading back to the alleyway.

               Alec aimed his gun at Ames again. "You'll drop the three of us off!" He coldly informed him.

               "You want to let your pregnant sister go to Terminal City." Ames said sarcastically and rhetorically. "Transgenics are immune yes, but you really want to chance the babies, that they share their mother's immunity!"

               "What do you care! Four less freaks for you to hunt down!" Alec retorted.

               "I'm not going to let you needlessly endanger the lives of my son's brothers!" Ames yelled back.

               "This from a guy who killed his two eldest babies!" Alec flung at him.

               "Wendy was only a month gone each time I gave her the miscarriage serum! They were little more than a collection of cells!" Ames snarled back.

               Asia was just sitting listening to them argue, looking from them to Will who unbelievably had decided to take a nap and was sleeping contentedly while the males verbally fought.              

               They arrived back at the spot were Alec had broken Ames' car window.

               Alec and Ames continued to argue for around another six minutes and they had just decided to settle the fight with a duel, when Will spoke.             

               "Pistols at dawn what a cliché!" Was her sarcastic and apt comment, since it was indeed true dawn.

               "Will tell this moron that you're coming home with me!" Alec commanded.

               "Terminal City is not a healthy place for you you're coming home with me!" Ames ordered. Shit! Why did I say that! Harbour Lights E.R. here I come!

               "You think I'd let her go with you!" Alec was incredulous. "You're trying to kill my kind!"

               "I told you, Ray sees those babies as his brothers, I won't kill any of his siblings until I absolutely have too!" Ames snarled at him. I can't take her back to my place what if The Conclave find out! Damn it! Why am I arguing with 494! I should be letting her go with him! Why the hell am I feeling protective towards Will and her kids! 378 her name is 3 7 8!

               "I'm not going home with either of you!" Will bluntly told the glaring males.

               "What!" Ames and Alec said in unison.

               "Will you could give birth at any minute, you need to be somewhere safe!" Alec yelled at her.

               "He's right! The city isn't safe for Transgenics, even those who don't have barcodes!" Ames wholeheartedly agreed. Because of me! So why am I trying to protect five of 'em? I could tell Ray that I thought they'd be fine in T.C, that I assumed they had their mother's immunity…….

               Asia got out of the car, she was fed up with listening to the two males bicker and she wanted to get back to T.C to test the samples, while they were still good.        

               "Asia thanks for your help, sorry I was such a grouch!" Will told her as she got out of the car and hugged the younger woman. "Are you okay getting back into T.C, I don't think Alec's gonna let me out of his sight, well earshot at least!"

               "Yes I'll be fine, a couple of the X5's are waiting for us, I'll tell them that you and Alec decided to stay in the main city." Asia replied smiling. "I understood why you were snappy, hormones and worry. Are you going to be okay, I hate leaving you with those two posturing bucks!"

               Will laughed at this, Alec and Ames both glared at Asia, not liking the apt comparison.

               "If they get too annoying I'll just pull my Batman stunt and fade into the background!" Will grinned. "No one could ever find me in Escape and Evade!"

               The sound of a low pitched whistle, not meant for human ears interrupted the conversation.

               "That's the X5's. I'll call you as soon as we get the results, call me if you need anything or want to talk!" Asia softly ordered then was swiftly gone in the direction of the whistle.

               Will quickly sat back in the car, put on her seat belt and turned to face the two glaring males, a scowl had joined Ames' glare.

               "Okay so since I'm not going to stay in either of your places, where do you suggest the three of us stay for the next few days?" Will asked them sounding amused.

               Ames and Alec looked at each other in shock, the three of them living together even for a few days had not occurred to either of them they had assumed that Will would choose to stay with either one or the other, not both of them.

               "Why can't we all stay at one of our places?" Ames grouchily asked. What am I saying!

               "Yeah!" Alec readily agreed.

               "Well first we have the problem of you both being a tad territorial, then we have the security issue, I'm sure neither of you want the other to know exactly where you live." Will drolly stated and rolled her eyes as she grinned.

               Both had the decency to blush slightly and look sheepish at the obviousness of the second part of her statement, they both let the territorial jibe slide since it was true.

               "So, since it's your turf, where are we going to be spending the next few days?" Will again asked, still smiling.

               "Ames' goons found one of our safe houses, a week ago, we can use that." Alec suggested still not liking the idea but knowing better than to try and win certain arguments with Will.

               "Yeah, I pulled the surveillance team from it the other day." Ames agreed. "I knew that you freaks had abandoned the apartment!"

                "I know that's why I suggested it!" Alec retorted sarcastically.

               "Great! So lets go there then!" Will ordered, before another argument could erupt. "I want to sleep!"

               Ames contented himself with a glare at 494, then started up his car and drove to the ex transgenic safe house. Why the hell am I taking orders from her! I'm crazy!

               Twenty one minutes later.

               Alec picked the new lock on the apartment's door and they swiftly entered, Will grinned, it was her old place, and the furniture was still there awaiting the next tenants.

               Will was carrying her hold all and Ames had retrieved his pilot's bag with overnight stuff in for emergencies from the trunk of his car. Alec was the only one without anything.

               Will immediately headed for the bathroom then a few moments later she emerged and entered her old bedroom.              

               While she had been doing this, Alec and Ames had been securing the apartment and setting up booby traps at the windows and on the door in case they had unexpected visitors.

               Will returned from the bedroom, dressed in her dark green short pyjamas and carrying the bedding for the sofa bed. "See you boys can play nice!" She quipped grinning as she dumped the bedding onto the floor.

               Both turned and glared at her then finished up what they were doing.

               Will was about to flip out the sofa bed and make it up.

               "Hey! We'll do that! You sit down!" Alec ordered then picked her up and gently placed her down on one of the two armchairs.

               Will shrugged her right shoulder. "Fine."

               Then she settled down, seated cross legged, to watch the fireworks that would happen, when both males remembered that there were only two beds and that they would have to share. Since it would be inappropriate for her and Alec to share and her and Ames, well that would just be plain embarrassing and weird, and not something that either male was likely to agree to anyway.

               She doesn't bother to hide the caduceus brand? Why not, I'd have thought that she would hate it would have had it removed now that Manticore's been destroyed! They have lasers to remove their barcodes, so they would be able to remove it!  Ames thought as he helped 494 make up the bed.

               Alec and Ames quickly made up the bed then reality dawned at roughly the same moment for both of them. Seeing this Will burst out laughing.

               "It's not funny 378!" Ames snarled at her.

               "I am not sharing a bed with him!" Alec whined pouting.

               "Right like I want to sleep with you!" Ames growled at him. Bad phrasing! Idiot!

               At that Will's laughter turned into hysterics, she began rolling around in her armchair.

               Both males glared at her.

               "You can sleep with Will!" Alec unthinkingly retorted.

               Will quit laughing at this and grinned at them. "Wow Alec, you've sure changed your tune! One minute you're rescuing me from Ames the next you're telling him he can sleep with me!"

               "I didn't mean it like that!" Alec yelped, looking shocked.

               "Fine that's sorted! I share the king size bed with Will, you take the sofa bed!" Ames retorted looking smug. Damn not those dream flashes again! She's seven months pregnant with quads! I think I need my head examined! Damn, if I go to any doctor word might leak back to The Conclave and I'll get C.J as a room mate! I'd rather have Will! No stop thinking Will and mate!

               "Hey now wait just a bleeding minute!" Will yelled. "Don't I get any say in who shares my bed!" She glared at them.

               "No!" Ames and Alec yelled in unison, and since it was Sunday and neither of them had to work, each made for their beds.                        

               "I preferred it when you two wanted to kill each other!" Will yelled then stood and glared at her younger brother for a minute, that had no effect because he was being a typical cat and ignoring her, she turned on her heel and followed Ames into her old bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

               Ames having swiftly shucked all but his black boxer shorts, was already laying down in the super king size bed, on the right hand side right on the edge he looked up and grinned at the scowling Transgenic.                

               Will's scowl swiftly turned to a shark like smile. "I'm sure The Conclave will be ecstatic to learn that we've been sleeping together." Will told him sweetly as she quickly got into bed and mirrored Ames position on the far left of the bed, leaving a gap of over one metre between them.

               Ames quite literally blanched. "You wouldn't……."

               "Of course not! Fine protector I'd be if I told 'em!" Will immediately growled at him too tired to be bothered baiting him anymore since her initial barb had hit dead on, she turned onto her side so that her back was towards him and immediately went to sleep.

               Ames just lay watching her. Okay how the heck did I wind up in bed with a Transgenic, who's seven months pregnant and expecting quads! If The Conclave ever hear of this………..  

               Ames did not continue that worrying line of thought, instead he decided to follow Will's lead and sleep, as he was dozing off the dream flashed through his mind again.