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 7

               Later after lunch.

               There was a knock at the door, Will and Alec quietly went to it, Alec had his revolver out, Will stood by the door sniffed and grinned, as she removed the deadbolt, swiftly opening it.

               Max, Logan, Original Cindy, Sketchy and Normal rushed in.

              Will quickly shut the door behind them and Alec put away his revolver as Max and Original Cindy immediately engulfed Will in a huge hug.

               "Hi guys!" Will said laughing hugging them back.

               "Hey boo!" Original Cindy said and stood back to look at her. "You sure don't look like you gave birth a few days ago let alone to quads!"

               "Yeah Will you sure got you're sexy figure back quick!" Sketchy told her as he eyed her up. "Owww!"

               Max had quit hugging Will to turn and not so lightly hit him on the chest, at the same instant Original Cindy and Normal also hit him, both chose to hit him upside of his head, one on either side

                Sketchy used one hand to rub his chest and the other to alternately rub each side of his head he had a very hurt expression upon his face.

               "You don't say that kind of thing to a lady!" Normal told Sketchy glaring at him, he had always liked Will.

               Will burst out laughing. "I have missed you guys!"

               Alec rolled his eyes. "Hey can we move this reunion into the lounge." He said and without waiting for a reply walked into the lounge and flopped down on the sofa. 

               The others grinned and quickly followed, Sketchy still rubbing his sore chest.

               "We bought some more things for the babies." Logan told Will smiling as he sat in an armchair after handing the two full carrier bags to her.

               "Thanks!" Will said giving them all a dazzling smile she then looked through the bag as she sat next to Alec on the sofa.  "These will come in really handy on the trip home."          

               Max grinning sat next to her on the arm of the sofa. "Yeah Alec said that he hadn't been able to get bottles or a breast pump before Otto nabbed him, so we got them."

               Sketchy's eyes got round at the word breast pump, but he wisely kept his mouth shut, he spotted the footstool and quickly sat on it.

               Normal sat on the other armchair, as Original Cindy sat on Alec's other side.

               Will removed the items from the bag as well as the eight bottles and breast pump, there were more reusable diapers, pacifiers, clothes, bath items, more blankets, bibs, some soft toys and two mobiles.

               "Thanks guys these are great!" Will told them smiling as she carefully examined all the items.

               "Great! We can quit jangling keys over them!" Alec grinned upon seeing the mobiles. "And give the glove puppets a rest, the mobiles don't need us to move 'em!"

               "They're from Joshua he made them, as soon as he heard you were pregnant he sent me out for supplies. He really wanted to come too, but it wasn't safe." Max told the siblings.              

               "They're beautiful." Will said sincerely as she genuinely admired them. "Max will you give him a big hug from me, I'll call him and thank him too."

               "Sure!" Max replied smiling.

               "The soft toys are from us!" Sketchy told Will and he picked up a gorilla. "One for each baby, I chose this one!" He grinned at her.

                Original Cindy picked up a black rabbit. "Here's my one I can't wait to give it to one of the little'uns!"

                "I got the cat." Max grinned as she pointed at the black cat.

                 "We know that you love black hence all the black soft toys." Logan said smiling.

                "Yeah the Scottie dog's from me." Normal added shrugging.

                Will smiled at all of them. "Thank you they're all lovely, you can chose who gets which and name them

too."

               "Here I also got you these." Normal stated as he handed her a box of chocolates. "Well it's hardly fair to just bring gifts for the babies." He was a little embarrassed.

               Will took the proffered box of chocolates and then hugged him. "Thank you Ray! I have an absolute weakness for chocolate." Will had always called Normal Ray when she was speaking to him because she knew that he disliked his nickname.

               Alec grinned at him. "Yeah she does! Good call Normal!"

               "So when are we going to get to see the newest members of my favourite family?" Normal asked blushing slightly.

               "Yeah I want to hug my boo's boos." Original Cindy agreed.

               Will was only half listening to them, her ears had picked up sounds from the bedroom she smiled tenderly. "I think they heard your voices, they're awake, Alec and I will go and get them." She said as she stood and swiftly moved from the lounge.

               Alec was only a couple of paces behind.

               "I didn't hear anything?" Sketchy said mystified.

               "Will's part wolf, she's got even more acute hearing than Max and Alec." Logan told him.

               "Idiot! Don't you remember anything that Max and Alec told us?" Normal asked exasperated.

               "Ah some." Sketchy replied with his normal confused look.

               Further comment was forestalled by the arrival of Will and Alec with the quads, who were wide awake and looking curiously at all the new people.

               Max visibly melted. "Will they're gorgeous." She purred and reached for Kincaid who Alec was holding, he was the nearest to her. "Come to Auntie Max." She cooed as she gently took him and sat properly on the sofa, and started waving the cat in front of him. "Say hi to Panthro." She said and then started talking nonsense to him which he adored.

               Alec grinned at her. "That's Kincaid St. John Murdoch Wolfe, he's the youngest."

                Max grinned at Alec then at Will. "I like his names! Hello Kincaid!"

               "Can I hold one of these cutie pies?" Original Cindy asked as she gently chucked Kit and then Kyle under the chin, they gurgled in delight.

               "Off course." Will smiled and handed her Kit. "He's Kit Stringfellow Magnum Wolfe and he's the eldest. Go to Aunty O.C."

               Original Cindy grinned at that and gently took him and sat down next to Max and Kincaid. "Those are good names! Hey suga, I'm you're Aunty O.C." She cooed and picked up the rabbit. "This is Thumper."

               "Here Uncle Logan, take Kieran Starbuck Murphy Wolfe, Kincaid's twin, good practice for you." Alec said grinning as he handed the infant to the startled Ordinary he then sat back on the sofa.

               Logan gingerly but gently took Kieran and cradled him against his chest and was rewarded by a delighted gurgle.  "You like to choose television related names don't you Will…. Not that I don't like your choices I think that the ones I've heard will suit your sons and I know the same will go for the other's full name."

               "Thank you Logan and I know that I tend to pick television or film related names, but I like the characteristics of the characters." Will told him grinning

               "Yeah they are all good guys…. Heroes." Logan agreed nodding.

               "Ray would you like to hold Kyle?" Will asked smiling at him.

               Normal instantly held out his arms and smiled at her. "I'd love too."

               Will placed Kyle into Normal's arms. "Say hi to Uncle Ray honey."

               Kyle gurgled happily at the his Uncle Ray.

              "His full name is Kyle Sinclair Marshall Wolfe." Will grinned. "He's Kit's twin."

              "He's as well named as his brothers." Normal told her sincerely as he smiled at the baby in his arms.

               Sketchy moved over to Logan with the gorilla. "Hey Kieran here's your gorilla he's called King Kong." He waved King Kong in front of the delighted child then handed the soft toy to Logan.

               "Thanks." Logan said as he absently took it and held it up and jigged it about for Kieran.

                Sketchy then grinned and went baby to baby looking at them and pulling faces and offering his finger, the babies loved this and all were gurgling in delight at all the attention.

                "Hello Kyle this is Scottie." Normal stated as he showed the dog to the gurgling infant.

                 "Wow they look like identical quads." Sketchy stated as he moved and stood by Normal and entertained Kyle. "Hi Kyle I'm your Uncle Sketchy." He grinned.

               Will laughed. "Yeah, but they are definitely two sets of twins, there are differences."

               "So Will I hear that you plan to adopt the fourteen missing kids when we find them." Logan stated the seriousness of his tone at odds with the faces he was pulling to amuse Kieran.              

               Will sat down on the vacant footstool and smiled at Logan. "Yes and I am perfectly sane and have already promised that these will be the last kids that I adopt or foster." She calmly told him forestalling any comments on that regard.

               Logan looked up at her and grinned. "Alec already told Max about the promise and I don't think you're insane."

               Alec groaned and rolled his eyes. "Logan don't encourage her!"

               Logan rolled his eyes at Alec. "I'm not, I just put myself in her place, she's known all of you since birth, and she trained the X6's, her report stated that she had contact with all of them for training purposes, you're her kid siblings so she feels protective towards all of you. I respect that."

               "Relax Alec I gave my word and you know I won't break it." Will told him smiling at him and Logan in turn.

               "Logan's got you a plane, he said that there's an airstrip sixty or so miles from your place, so you can use that and have Bret come get you in the motor home." Max told her sister though her attention never left her nephew.

               "A plane!" Will said in obvious joy. "It's been so long since I flew……. Being a passenger doesn't count. To be at the controls of an aircraft again……… thank you Logan!" She swiftly stood up and moved over too him and hugged him, being careful not to crush Kieran between them. Then still smiling she swiftly returned to her seat.

               Logan was a little surprised at the hug, even though he knew of her aircraft obsession. "You're very welcome."

                "That's why you bought the pacifiers, because sucking them will help stop or relieve the pressure pain when or if their ears pop during the flight." Will accurately surmised.

               "Yep that's why we got them." Original Cindy paused just long enough from entertaining Kit to reply.

               "I can't wait to get behind the controls of an aircraft again." Will grinned again, her head immediately in the clouds.                

               Alec looked at Normal and Sketchy and grinned. "In case you couldn't guess Will has a thing for aircraft, with Max it's her bike, me it's my car, but Will goes gaga over aircraft……… of course that's probably why she's the best damn pilot Manticore ever produced! She can do the most extraordinary stuff with aircraft, she'll get them to perform beyond their design capabilities and not kill herself!" He proudly told them.            

               Will grinned at her younger brother at the compliment. "I wish I could fly more often, but it's way too expensive, I couldn't afford to keep either a plane or helicopter unless it was for a business and that's not really feasible in our area………… Logan what type of plane is it? Is the plane borrowed or acquired?"

               Logan smiled at the questions. "Acquired, the former owner, a crime boss, won't be needing it anymore…. It's a highly modified Avions de Transport Regional ATR 72."

               Will looked very interested at that. "An ATR 72…. Hmmmm turboprop sixty four to seventy two seats, first flight was in nineteen eighty five, stretched fuselage version of the ATR 42-200, very economical to run." She reeled off from memory and grinned. "It's a very good plane, I flew one once on a mission in Europe."

               "Well it no longer has seventy two passenger seats, it has fifty four with a small bedroom, Randall apparently thought of it as his Air Force one." Logan explained rolling his eyes. "It's got an untraceable satellite phone, G.P.S……. An aircraft engineer friend of mine said that it's in perfect condition…. you wouldn't know that it was in its thirties. He gave it the all clear."

               Will was deep in thought. "Do you have any plans for it after it gets us home?" She finally queried.

               "Well ah no if you can't use it, you can sell it." Logan replied wondering what she was thinking.                             

               Will grinned at him. "I was running the possible figures through my head, it being an ATR 72 changes things… I think I'll keep her and give running a charter and cargo service a go, if it proves unfeasible economically wise, I'll sell the plane."

               Logan nodded and smiled. "I might be able to put you in touch with some people who can use your services…… You're also a qualified engineer right?"

               "That would be great Logan and yes I qualified, to doctorial level in aeronautical engineering as a kid, why?" Will replied looking curious.

               "Well I just thought that that's an added bonus, you can take care of your own plane and also service others." Logan absently replied he was busy entertaining Kieran.

               "Yeah and we've a couple of extra pilots for you." Max added though her attention was mainly focused upon Kincaid.

               "Great! Even with the new X6's we still have two four bedroom cabins for guests and or new members of the family. So they're more than welcome." Will replied grinning.

               Logan seeing that Max was distracted forced himself to focus. "Ah actually we were hoping that you had room for and would take the other three X families, as you know, each of those who turned up pregnant or with a newborn adopted some of the X kids and there's also a pair of nineteen year old X6's who are expecting their first child in about four and a half months time."              

               "Why bother with the question Logan this is Will remember of course she'll take 'em!" Alec sarcastically told him. "Never mind that the farm'll be bursting at the seams!!"

               Logan glared at Alec.

               "Alec's right, Logan, give me their details and I'll rework the living accommodations." Will replied smiling at him before he could get into an argument with Alec. "No one will mind."

              Logan smiled at Will. "Okay well there's Donatello and Andromeda, the X6's. Gem, her biological daughter Amber nineteen months and her five adopted X kids, X6's Lily seventeen and Jessica fifthteen, X8's Paige ten, Louise eight and Holly seven."

              Will thought for a moment. "Alec's also right in that I can't take anymore permanent residents after these, my place is full… ….Okay I have exceptions to that, you guys are welcome and also if Charlie and Case need a new place to live…. I'd love to meet them both and help them in any way that I can." Will shrugged her right shoulder. "And Deck."

               Max looked up at the mention of Deck but knowing that Will had a strong parental bond with him she sensibly refrained from commenting and went back to entertaining Kincaid.

               Logan smiled at Will. "Thanks Will for the offer and I'll remember that Deck, us, and Charlie and Case are the exception, if they need a new place to stay I'll send them to you…. but we had already decided not to send you anyone else."

               Will finally wrote down the data on a piece of paper to be added to her accommodations plan later, writing it all down helped her to sort living quarters out faster than just keeping all the data in her head.

               Logan continued to speak. "The other two families are made up of twin X5's and the X5's they were partnered with in Manticore, the pairings stuck. Okay first are Lisette and Indiana, their fraternal triplets Darien, Dempsey and Deanna seventeen and a half months, and their adopted kids, X6's Carson eighteen Reece eighteen, Hobie seventeen, Marie seventeen, clones Toni and Teri sixteen they're female, Russ fifthteen, Kim she's fifthteen, Adam fifthteen and Anna fifthteen, X8's twins Dixon and Owen ten, Charlotte nine, Reid eight and Laura seven."

               "Okay that's nine plus twenty makes twenty nine and the others are?" Will asked looking up from her notes not even batting an eye at the numbers.

              "Last we have Lacey and David their fraternal twin daughters Hope and Honour seventeen and a half months and their adopted kids, X6's Dante eighteen, Gary eighteen, Dana she's seventeen, Axel seventeen, Naomi sixteen, Brad sixteen, Fox fifthteen, Melody fifthteen and Renee fifthteen, X8's Lucas ten, Nathan nine, clones Hayley and Hallie eight, twins Bonnie and Bethany seven, and X10 Clark three." Logan finished reading from the list he had memorised.

               "Hmmmm forty nine new kin…" Will thought aloud as she jotted the new information down. "Good job under threes can ride on laps on planes."

               Alec groaned. "Sheesh they're almost as bad as Will….."

               "We realise that you'll now have over one hundred and fifty people on the farm so as I said these are the last that we will send." Logan reiterated with a smile cutting off Alec's complaint.

               "Thanks Logan because otherwise as well as being a little cramped and slightly more of a financial drain it becomes a security issue…… Okay so that's forty nine more kin to accommodate." Will stated and shrugged her right shoulder, not in the least fazed by having to figure out how to accommodate all these new people. "Deck's training on logistics has finally come in handy."

               "Well their X6's will have to live in cabins or the bunkhouse like Will's and the other X5's…… she's finally decided that it's silly only letting those over fifthteen move out of the main house….she needed too, the main house is crowded as it is, without the addition of the quads and the ten younger X kids… even with all the X6's living in the cabins and bunk house that still means that there will be thirty nine kids in the main house!" Alec sarcastically declared as he rolled his eyes at his sister.

               "Wow!" Sketchy stated looking stunned, he had forgotten that he had been told that Will already had fifty kids and so would have sixty four when they found the fourteen kidnapped children.

               Original Cindy looked up from entertaining Kit and grinned at Will. "You go girl! Take no notice of Alec! I think it's great you adopted all those kids and plan to adopt the missing kids!" With that she returned to entertaining Kit.

               "I do to Will, I hate to leave people but I have a business to run. Bye, bye Kyle." Normal said as he stood up and placed Kyle into Will's arms along with the soft toy Scottie dog. "Congratulations Will they're all beautiful." He sincerely told her and gave her a peck on the check.

               Will gave him her dazzling smile. "Thank you Ray and thank you for the doggie, I can see that Kyle loves Scottie already." She was about to stand to see Normal out.

               "Will I'll see him out you stay put!" Alec ordered and swiftly stood up and showed Normal out, then swiftly returned.

               "Max ask Gem, Lisette, Indiana, Lacey and David if they mind my putting the X6's in either cabins or the bunk houses with mine and the other X5's X6's when you get back to T.C." Will pretty much ordered her kid sister. "Did you get that?" She added sounding amused.

               Max looked up at her and grinned. "Ask Gem, Lisette, Indiana, Lacey and David if they mind my putting the X6's in either cabins or the bunk house with my and the other X5's X6's when you get back to T.C…… Got it, will do, I'll only phone if it's a negative."

               Will grinned back at her. "Okay." She looked at Kyle and saw that he was falling asleep. "Are the others falling asleep too?"

               "Yes this little guy is almost asleep." Logan quietly confirmed.

                "So's Kincaid." Max quietly added.

               "Yeah Kit too." Original Cindy stated quietly as she carefully stood up. "Lead us to the bedroom."

               Will, stood as did Logan and Max and then she quickly led them to the bedroom, each was also carrying each babies' soft toy, and they gently laid the cubs down in their makeshift cribs, with their soft toy safely tucked at their feet, grinning at what a clever idea using drawers was.

               The babies fell asleep a couple of moment after they were placed down and all four adults quickly and quietly left the room, Max and Logan as normal were being very careful not to touch, because a cure for the virus had yet to be found.

               They went back into the lounge and sat down again.

               "Will give me the babies full names again and I'll make you up some birth certificates." Logan said as he removed a pen and a small pad of paper from his jeans pocket. "Ah who shall I put under father?"

               Will shrugged her right shoulder. "Um, I guess I'll have to pick a name…. hmmmm and no obvious television or film links. I'll give you my sons names first then I'll tell you okay."

               "Fine." Logan stated with a smile.

               "I'll tell him their names in birth order Will you think of what to call their father." Alec volunteered then proceeded to do so. "Kit Stringfellow Magnum Wolfe and his twin Kyle Sinclair Marshall Wolfe, Kieran Starbuck Murphy Wolfe and his twin Kincaid St. John Murdoch Wolfe born the eighth of February twenty twenty three."

               Logan quickly wrote the names down and handed the note pad to Will. "Check I've spelt their names right please."

               Will looked at the list and smiled at Logan. "Marshall should have to Elle's, the rest are fine." She stated as she handed the pad back to him.

               Logan swiftly corrected the spelling of Marshall and then waited for Will to give a name to her babies' father. 

               "First name Matthew, middle name Steven, surname is double barrelled Gibbon-Bayne born August twenty second nineteen eighty eight." Will finally stated as if she had been thinking of a name and date for all that time.        "M A T T H E W, S T E V E N, G I B B O N, B A Y N E." She spelt them out for Logan.

                 Only Alec recognised the date but apart from a slightly raised eyebrow to indicate that he had got the significance, he merely grinned and nodded his approval.

               "Right I'll get the certificates made up straight away." Logan assured her smiling. "Better give me the names that you want the kids to have too, I already know their ages and the birthdays they chose."

               "Okay in order of age oldest to youngest. Sundance Thaddeus, Gizmo Kate; Templeton stays the same, as does Dalton and Lincoln. Delta becomes Conner; Omega Callum C A L L U M; Honey Anya; Kitty Isobel  I S O B E L; Lacey Jade; Lucy Jenna; Lexy Jasmine; Charlie Rowanne R O W A N N E and Harley stays the same."  Will quickly ran through the list.

               "Got them." Logan confirmed grinning.

               Max decided to call the X5 parents instead of waiting till she got home to T.C and could see them face to face. She got out her cell phone and called Gem, then Indiana and lastly Lacey all were pleased that Will had agreed to their going to Canada and living on her farm and were fine with the X6's living in either bunk house or cabins, since all were in a two acre compound and they would not be far from adult supervision in the unlikely event that it was needed.

               "Max, Logan after we rescue the kids you'll need to have a temporary safe house and guardians arranged for them, there's not enough room here and I'd rather not move the quads until we're taking them to the plane." Will firmly stated.

               Max shrugged. "No problem, Don and Romy can act as temporary guardians, the kids can stay at their safe house, the other X5's there can move into T.C for a few days, it's got enough room for a day or so."

               "It's better if we keep you all separate, move you to the plane in five groups." Logan stated nodding his head slightly.

               Max scowled. "Yeah! Less chance of Ames and his goons finding out about you and your cubs!"

               "Or these new players!" Original Cindy added. "They better not have hurt those kids!" She stated with a fearsome glare.

                That statement was met with glares from all of them at the thought of the kids being hurt.

               Max, Original Cindy, Logan and Sketchy stayed for another sixteen minutes, catching Will up on the goings on in Seattle and in their lives in particular, Will talked about what she and her family had been doing then the visitors reluctantly left. 

               Will and Alec saw them out then Will picked up the two bag's with the other baby items in and went into the bedroom while Alec switched the television back on and started watching the western that was playing.

               Will put the new clothes and diapers away and left the other items in the bedroom and returned to the lounge and settled back on the sofa next to Alec, who immediately put his arm around her shoulder, she leaned against him.

               "You know it's a damn good job that none of us X5's have your excellent sense of smell….. otherwise Max would have smelt Ames in your bed!" Alec pointed out the obvious.

               "Alec I know an X5's capabilities remember, I know that your sense of smell is better than an Ordinaries, it's very good but not so good that any of you would pick up Ames' scent…… If it was I wouldn't have let her in my bedroom……. I would have sent you in her place with Kincaid…. I would have done that by offering her and the others the extra sandwiches that I put in the fridge for later." Will replied grinning at him.

               Alec rolled his eyes. "Geeez I forgot what a tactician you were, are! Yeah that would have distracted her!"

               "I know….. if you want to distract X5's etcetera offer them food." Will quipped.

               "And if we want to distract you offer sweet stuff especially chocolate, 'cause general food doesn't work with you!" Alec replied grinning. "Hey open those chocolates Normal gave you I want some!"

               "Yep!" Will grinned at him and did as ordered and then handed him the open box after getting a chocolate for herself popping it into her mouth.

               Alec had done likewise and was happily sucking a chocolate. "Mmmmm hazelnut whirl my favourite." He stated as he took out another of the same shape.

               "Okay I better revise the accommodation arrangements." Will grinned and stated picking up the pen paper and bit of wood that she used to lay the paper on so she could write while relaxed on the sofa rather than leaning over the coffee table. "I've hoping to give the eighteen and seventeen year olds their own rooms it's really not fair to keep expecting them to share."

               "Ah what about Mart and Mike you can't pry those two apart?" Alec asked.

               Will grinned at him. "I know that that's why I always think of them as one entity rather than two, so they are sharing."

               Alec grinned back at her. "Oh right!"

               "Hmmm I better concentrate on this." Will thought aloud then ate another chocolate.

               "Good means I'll get to watch this movie in peace!" Alec quipped but got no response from his absorbed sister so he just shrugged, pooped another chocolate into his mouth and focused on the movie.

Revised accommodation assignments.

Main house.

               First Floor:

               Will's suite: Kit; Kyle; Kieran and Kincaid's bedroom (former lounge.), large bathroom; two walk in closets and dressing rooms and Will's very large bedroom.

               Alec's bedroom and en-suite bathroom.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite bathroom 1: Jacob ten, Harrison and Hannibal nine.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite bathroom 2: Jarred and Daniel both nine and James eight.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite bathroom 3: Lincoln nine and Conner and Callum both eight.

                Loft:

               Children's bedroom and en-suite shower room 4: Mark eight, Ethaniel and Perry both seven.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite shower room 5: Robyn, Ryanne, Erin and Isobel all seven.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite shower room 6: Heather nine and Emma and Anya both eight.

               Children's bedroom 7: Remy four and Dean and Devon both three.

               Children's bedroom 8: Jason and Toby both five.

               Children's bedroom 9: Quinn five and Xena four.

               Children's bedroom 10:  Jade, Jenna and Jasmine all four.

                              

               Ground Floor:

               Children's bedroom 11 (Formerly the playroom.): Coral, Crystal and Rowanne all three and Harley, Darwin and Dashiell two.

The two, two bedroom cabins:

               First: Male X6 quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Bret nineteen.

               Bedroom 2: Colt nineteen.

               Second Female X6 quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Jubilee eighteen.

               Bedroom 2: Angel eighteen

The two three bedroom cabins:

               First Jace's Home:

               Bedroom 1: Jace.

               Bedroom 2:  Maxie two.

               Bedroom 3: Andy six months.

                Second: Zia and Rocky's Home:

               Bedroom 1:  Zia and Rocky.

               Bedroom 2:  Tamara seventeen months.

               Bedroom 3:  Abby seven and Callie eight.

The three four bedroom cabins:

               First: Guest Cabin.

               Second: Male X6 Quarters.

               Bedroom 1: Saxon, eighteen.

               Bedroom 2:  Michael, Martin eighteen (insist on sharing.)

               Bedroom 3: Heath eighteen.

               Bedroom 4: Nikalye eighteen.

               Third: Guest Cabin.

The one five bedroom cabin:

               Nailin and Tay's Home:

               Bedroom 1:  Nailin and Tay.

               Bedroom 2:  Sapphire seventeen and a half months and Dax seven months.

               Bedroom 3: Amy four.

               Bedroom 4:  Jack seven.

               Bedroom 5: Chloe ten.

The one six bedroom cabin:

                Zari and Dan's Home:

               Bedroom 1: Zari and Dan.

               Bedroom 2:  Benjy two, Johnny three and Robert four.

               Bedroom 3:  Kara and Carrie both five.

               Bedroom 4:  Tom seven and Oscar eight.

               Bedroom 5: Bella nine and Lucy ten.

               Bedroom 6:  Charlie nine.

Eight bedroom bunk house:

               Female X6 quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Nikita seventeen.

               Bedroom 2: Natasha seventeen.

               Bedroom 3: Natalia seventeen.

               Bedroom 4: Kate seventeen.

               Bedroom 5: Jewel and Darcy both sixteen.

               Bedroom 6: Cassidy and Rianne both sixteen.

               Bedroom 7: Brooke fourteen and Tara sixteen

               Bedroom 8: Montanna and Leia both fifthteen.

Twelve bedroom bunk house:

               Male X6 quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Thaddeus seventeen.

               Bedroom 2:  Templeton seventeen.

               Bedroom 3: Pierce seventeen.

               Bedroom 4: Reilly seventeen.

               Bedroom 5: Paul seventeen.

               Bedroom 6: Peter seventeen.

               Bedroom 7: Frazer sixteen.

               Bedroom 8: Griffin sixteen.

               Bedroom 9: Dalton fifthteen and Cooper sixteen.

               Bedroom 10: Nick and Jeremiah both fifthteen.

               Bedroom 11: Craig and Josiah both fifthteen.

               Bedroom 12: Todd and Tyler both fifthteen.

               Thirty three minutes later.

               Will had finally worked out the accommodations, some of the X5 families already at the farm would have to downsize after their other X6's moved out, but she knew that this would not be a problem and that Jace would also not mind moving into a two bedroom cabin because Maxie and Andy were young enough to share.

               "It's a good thing I promised Ray and the X8's that we would build two more three bed cabins in a few years time, because they'll be needed by then." Will stated. "We'll have to build more than just two."

               Alec grinned at her, he knew all about that conversation and the negotiations that went on because Will had called him afterwards half annoyed half proud of Ray, and his very good arguments. "Yeah, could have done with them now huh?"

               Will sighed. "I'm not going to be able to give all the eighteen year olds their own rooms, even though I've put four to a room with my younger kids, who are four and over, since they're Transgenics they don't have to be six as Ordinaries do to safely use bunk beds."

               "Don't worry about that they had to share in Manticore so it won't bother 'em!" Alec reassured her.

               "Yep, it's just a damn good job that the kids are used to barracks, twelve to a dorm, so that even four to a room is considered to be a luxury by them." Will replied.

               "Yeah other wise you'd have loads of complaining kids and possibly X5's as well." Alec agreed. "Okay well tell me the revisions to your plan."

               "Some of our siblings are definitely going to have to downsize." Will stated then started reading from her plan. "Jace, Maxie and Andy will move into one of the two bed cabins. Donatello and Andromeda will have the other two bed cabin. Zari, Dan, and their ten youngest will move from their six bed into the five bed one. Nailin, Tay and their five younger kids are definitely going to have to move from their five bed into a four bed cabin."

               "They won't mind." Alec confidently reassured her, knowing that they would not.

               Will smiled at him. "I know…. okay Zia, Rocky and their three youngest stay in their three bed cabin. Lisette, Indiana and their eight younger kids will move into one four bed cabin. Lacey, David, and their nine younger kids will move into the six bedroom one. Gem and her four younger kids will move into a three bed cabin. My place will stay the same. That leaves one four bed cabin and the two bunk houses for the X6's."    

               Alec quickly did the math. "Twenty five girls in an eight bed bunk house and thirty three boys in a twelve bed bunk house….  I'm assuming that they'll have the largest of the four bed cabins right? Leia and Montanna have always been inseparable even in Manticore I doubt if you could get 'em to part which is useful."

                "Yep! And yes they will have the largest four bed cabin. And I'm going to put the girls in the twelve bed bunk house and the boys in the eight bed one and the four bed cabin. Two or three girls to a room, a couple will just have one because of size restraints….. boys will be twenty one  in the eight bed bunk house will be two and three per room, since I planned that bunk house with this eventuality in mind and the other twelve will be in the four bed cabin, It'll still be a bit of a tight squeeze."

               "Yeah but at least they'll be safe and they won't mind, it's better than what they had at Manticore." Alec pointed out again.

               "We're out of cabins…. Well at least until we build the new ones but that's not for a few years yet. We'll have to build a couple sooner then more later for the kids to learn on. When we have guests the kids will just have to quadruple up and sleep on sofa beds." Will stated, sounding a little depressed.

               "Yeah but that won't be an issue on the odd occasions it happens." Alec cheerfully reminded her.

               "Hmmm wait a minute I can put Zari and Dan in the four bed cabin the largest of the bedrooms is plenty large enough to sleep five of the youngsters the fact that it's two girls and three boys won't be an issue for a few years and then move Lacey and David into the five bed cabin, Clark will be fine sharing with Hope and Honour. That'll free up the six bed cabin for the X6's." Will suddenly decided as she looked at her plans.

               "Yeah by the time that their genders start to become an issue you'll have more cabins and some of the X6's will have left the den completely." Alec grinned.

                Will rolled her eyes at that phraseology.  "I have to have the formal living room I can't entertain guests in the family room not with it doubling as a playroom. It's a pity I got the builders to knock the formal dining room through into the kitchen, but since it was hardly being used and we needed the extra space since everyone prefers to eat in the kitchen……." Will trailed off shrugging her right shoulder.

               "You can give two of them my room." Alec offered realising that it made sense since he only managed to visit occasionally.

               Will hugged him. "Thanks bro, but no the kids think of your room as sacrosanct….." Will mentally pictured her home and rearranged stuff, trying to make more room. "I don't need a separate study, I'm neat when I have to be, so we can move the study into the formal lounge, it'll fit in there perfectly……." She trailed off a huge grin suddenly appearing on her face.

               "What?" Alec asked pleased to be able to keep his room and that the kids considered it sacrosanct.

               "The games room and gym, I can convert those! I just recalled the huge storage loft over the multi car garage and workshop, it's got proper flooring  and I remember the electrician telling me that he had wired it a couple of years ago, but that Trevelyn had a change of heart over whatever he planned for it." Will stated as she grabbed her cell phone and quickly called home.

               The phone rang a few times then was answered. "Hello Tay, I just called to let you and every adult know that I plan on adopting fourteen more kids, don't let any of the kids hear that until I actually phone to say I've got them because they've been grabbed by some unknown players. Max and Logan have got people searching for them, Eyes Only's involved too and Ames has got the N.S.A. looking for them as well, he's agreed that I get the kids!"

               Will paused and listened for a few moments. "Yeah that is out of character for him. Anyway I also called to say, this you can tell the kids, that Logan and Max got us a large plane and we're going into the cargo and charter business, as well as myself the quads, Alec and my fourteen new kids, we'll be bringing home three more families and an X6 couple who're expecting their first child in a few months time. The families are Gem, her daughter Amber nineteen months, X8's Holly seven, Louise eight and Paige ten. X6's Jessica fifthteen and Lily seventeen."

               Will paused and listened again. "Yeah it will mean most of you shifting about and all the X6's living in cabins or bunkhouses." Listened. "I'm glad that you don't mind, these are the last that'll be joining us, Max and Logan had already taken us off their permanent placement list before I asked them too. Okay well the two other families are X5 twins and their X5 husbands: Lisette and Indiana, their fraternal triplets Darien, Dempsey and Deanna seventeen and a half months, X8's Laura seven, Reid eight, Charlotte nine and twins Dixon and Owen ten. X6's Anna, Adam, Kim female and Russ all fifthteen, clones Toni and Teri sixteen they're female, Marie and Hobie male seventeen, Reece and Carson eighteen." 

               Will stopped to listen and rolled her eyes. "Yeah loads more kids to help mine plot to marry me off to Ames! Sorry you wanted the rest of their details. Last are Lacey and David their fraternal twin daughters Hope and Honour seventeen and a half months, X10 Clark three, X8's twins Bonnie and Bethany seven, clones Hayley and Hallie eight, Nathan nine and Lucas ten. X6's Renee, Melody and Fox all fifthteen, Brad and Naomi sixteen, Axel and Dana female both seventeen, Gary and Dante both eighteen."

               Tay spoke again on the phone.

               "Yeah it's going to be a tight squeeze that's the main reason why I called I was working out cabin and room assignments, wondering where I was going to fit all the X6's, when I recalled that the electrician who worked on the cabins and bunkhouses said that he'd wired the huge loft above the multi car garage and workshop, and that Trevelyn had, had a change of heart over whatever he planned to do with it. I had meant to see exactly what had been done to it but other stuff kept distracting me, so could you go take a look because I was thinking I could move the games room and gym into there, since it's huge and then use those rooms as extra bedrooms."

               Listens. "Okay well I'm not going anywhere, give it a thorough look over and then describe it to me please. Thanks." Will stated and then hung on while he did as asked.

               "Will put it on speaker, listening to a one sided conversation is very irritating!" Alec ordered.

               "Will do." She replied with a grin and flipped the phone onto speaker.

               "I hope it's suitable to use as a games room and gym because you need those rooms." Alec pointed out the obvious, then they sat in silence, watching the television for a few minutes as they awaited Tay's return.

               Eighteen minutes later.

               They heard him return and pick up his land line phone.

               "Tay Alec's with me so I put my phone on speaker….. so tell me is it usable or not?" Will asked.

               "Hi Alec. Will you can't use it as a games room and gym." Tay told them. "Wait don't panic yet! You can't use it for those because it's pretty much converted into an apartment!"

               "What!" Will and Alec practically yelled in unison.

               "That wasn't on the plans or in the data that Logan sent us! I'd have used it if I'd known!" Will griped.

               "Tay what do you mean by pretty much converted?" Alec queried.

               "Well I'll list everything that I saw okay…. It has a proper floor throughout, just needs carpeting, tiling or whatever, it has light fixtures they just need bulbs that's what took me so long I went to get a bulb to try them out, power points, also working, bathroom with a shower, everything was in there, a separate washroom, kitchen sink and running water in all three areas, a few built in storage heaters and it even has some skylights, and we all assumed they were just more solar panels….. the only thing it needs besides floor coverings and some kitchen units being put in, is each of the room areas being separated by stud walls …….at the moment it's just one huge room!" Tay informed them he was obviously grinning. "So sis you can add that apartment to your calculations."

               "Tay that's great!" Alec yelled.

               Will was stunned. "That's been like that all this time! Thanks Tay this makes one hell of a difference! Hmmm from the size of the garage and workshop I think we can comfortably house ten of the younger X6's two to a room."

               "Yeah that's what Zari reckoned too, that you could comfortably get five bedrooms, bathroom, washroom, small kitchen and a large lounge dining room combination, keep that as open plan to make it bigger. I grabbed her when I got the light bulb and told her what was going on, she took a look, she's still there measuring up, she said that partition walls are no problem and that she and the building inclined X6's can easily put some up all you need to do is get home and tell them how you want the apartment laid out, same with the kitchen cabinets…. Heath was with her and since he's the carpentry genius, he's already planning the kitchen, working out the best possible usage for the corner that the sink's in!" Tay replied.

               "That's excellent! Tell Zari and Heath to go ahead and get started, I know how good they are at planning and design from the cabins…. So I trust them both to make the best use of all the available space! That's absolutely brilliant news! I better go I need to put the apartment into my calculations for living arrangements. Bye Tay." Will told him a huge grin on her face.            

               "She's grinning like a moron Tay! That news has really made her day, bye!" Alec told him grinning.

               Tay laughed. "Glad I could help, I'll go tell the rest of the kin about the newcomers, not the prospective siblings! Good luck on getting them away from whoever grabbed them!" He said then hung up.

               Will, turned off her phone, flipped it closed and placed it on the coffee table and picked up the paper and quickly altered her plan  "Okay the rest of the assignments are….. the study can sleep three with one bunk bed and one raised bed with wardrobes underneath so I'll put Jake, Harry and Han in there.  Devon, Dean, will be four when we get back well a couple of days from their fourth birthday so I'll put two bunk beds in the X nursery, they'll share with Coral, Crystal, Rowanne, Harley, Darwin and Dashiell, actually I need to put five bun beds in there and then I'll put Jason, Toby  and Remy in there too."

               "Will are you sure that's wise putting those three on the ground floor?" Alec asked having been told all about the trouble that trio had a habit of finding and causing.

               "Yes Alec, all windows and doors are alarmed, and I'd prefer them to find a way out of the house on the ground floor rather than out of a loft window." Will patiently stated.

               Alec blinked at that then grinned. "Yeah good point!"

               "Montanna and Leia can remain where they are now as can Josiah and Craig and Todd and Tyler. Dalton and Griffin will take one of the shower rooms. Coop and Frazer will take another. Robyn and Ryanne will move in with Emma, Anya and Heather. Erin will remain in her currant room and be joined by Isobel, Quinn and Xena. Hmmm that means that Ethan, Perry, Conner and Callum will share. Jarred, Danny and Jay stay where they are and are joined by Mark and Lincoln, I'll get Heath to make up some three tier bunks." Will finished reading out the house sleeping arrangements.

               "Good idea! So who's going to go in the apartment?" Alec queried grinning.

               "The apartment Brook and Jess, Anna and Kim, Renee and Melody, Tara and Naomi, and Cass and Ri, will share.  Twelve bed bunk house: smallest rooms will be for singles they'll be inhabited by Dante, Gary, Reece, Carson, Reilly and Hobie. Sharing two to a room will be Thad and Temp, Pierce and Axel, Paul and Peter, Fox and Adam, Nick and Jeremiah and Russ and Brad……. " Will replied grinning at him.

               "Ah Will….." Alec interrupted and started to query.

               Will read him and rolled her eyes. "Yes they will be given a say in their room mates."

               Alec grinned in response and waited for her to continue.

               "Boys in the six bed cabin: Bret, Colt, Saxon, Mike and Mart sharing as usual, Nikalye and Heath. Eight bed bunk house: single rooms Jubilee, Angel and Dana they'll have the three smallest and sharing will be Kate and Nik, Natasha and Natalia, Toni and Teri, Marie and Lily and Jewel and Darcy." Will stated grinning. 

               Alec grinned back at her. "You did it! All eighteen year olds get their own room! Well apart from Mart and Mike but that's their preference!"

               "Yep! Knowing Zari and the others the apartment will be ready for the boys when we get home!" Will grinned and flopped back into the sofa cushions.

               Alec put his arm around her shoulders and they relaxed and watched television.

Second revised accommodation assignments.

Main house.

                First Floor:

               Will's suite: Kit; Kyle; Kieran and Kincaid's bedroom (former lounge.), large bathroom; two walk in closets and dressing rooms and Will's very large bedroom.

               Alec's bedroom and en-suite bathroom.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite bathroom 1: Montanna and Leia fifthteen.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite bathroom 2: Todd and Tyler both fifthteen.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite bathroom 3: Josiah and Craig both fifthteen.

                Loft:

               Children's bedroom and en-suite shower room 4: Jarred, Lincoln and Daniel all nine and Mark and James both eight.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite shower room 5: Dalton fifthteen and Griffin sixteen.

               Children's bedroom and en-suite shower room 6: Frazer and Cooper both sixteen.

               Children's bedroom 7: Ethaniel and Perry both seven and Conner and Callum both eight.

               Children's bedroom 8: Heather nine, Anya and Emma both eight and Robyn and Ryanne both seven.

               Children's bedroom 9: Quinn five and Xena four and Erin and Isobel both seven.

               Children's bedroom 10:  Jade, Jenna and Jasmine all four.

              

               Ground Floor:

               Children's bedroom 11 (Formerly the playroom.): Jason and Toby both five, Remy four, Dean, Devon, Coral, Crystal and Rowanne all three and Harley, Darwin and Dashiell two.

               Children's bedroom 12 (Formerly the study.): Jacob ten and Harrison and Hannibal nine.

The two, two bedroom cabins:

               First: Jace's Home:

                Bedroom 1: Jace.

               Bedroom 2: Andy six months and Maxie two.

               Second: Donatello and Andromeda's Home:

               Bedroom 1: Donatello and Andromeda.

               Bedroom 2:

The two three bedroom cabins:

               First: Gem's Home:

               Bedroom 1: Gem.

               Bedroom 2: Amber nineteen months.

               Bedroom 3: Holly seven, Louise eight and Paige ten.

                Second: Zia and Rocky's Home:

               Bedroom 1:  Zia and Rocky.

               Bedroom 2:  Tamara seventeen months.

               Bedroom 3:  Abby seven and Callie eight.

The three four bedroom cabins:

               First: Lisette and Indiana's Home:

               Bedroom 1: Lisette and Indiana.

               Bedroom 2:  Deanna, Darien and Dempsey all seventeen and a half months.

               Bedroom 3: Laura seven and Charlotte nine.

               Bedroom 4: Reid eight, Owen and Dixon ten.

               Second: Zari and Dan's Home:     

               Bedroom 1: Zari and Dan.

               Bedroom 2:  Benjy two, Johnny three and Robert four, Kara and Carrie both five.

               Bedroom 3:  Tom seven, Oscar eight and Charlie nine.

               Bedroom 4: Bella nine and Lucy ten.

                                     

               Third: Nailin and Tay's Home:

               Bedroom 1:  Nailin and Tay.

               Bedroom 2:  Sapphire seventeen and a half months and Dax nineteen months.

               Bedroom 3: Amy four and Chloe ten.

               Bedroom 4:  Jack seven.

The one five bedroom cabin:

                Lacey and David's Home:

               Bedroom 1: Lacey and David.

               Bedroom 2: Hope and Honour both seventeen and a half months and Clark three.

               Bedroom 3: Bonnie and Bethany both seven.

               Bedroom 4: Hallie and Hayley both eight.

               Bedroom 5: Nathan nine and Lucas ten.

The one six bedroom cabin:

               Male X 6 Quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Bret nineteen.

               Bedroom 2: Colt nineteen.

               Bedroom 3: Saxon, eighteen.

               Bedroom 4: Michael, Martin eighteen (insist on sharing.)

               Bedroom 5: Nikalye eighteen.

               Bedroom 6: Heath eighteen.

Eight bedroom bunk house:

               Female X6 quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Jubilee eighteen.

               Bedroom 2: Natasha and Natalia seventeen.

               Bedroom 3: Dana eighteen.

               Bedroom 4: Toni and Teri both sixteen

               Bedroom 5: Jewel and Darcy sixteen.

               Bedroom 6: Nikita and Kate seventeen.

               Bedroom 7: Marie and Lilly seventeen

               Bedroom 8: Angel eighteen.

Twelve bedroom bunk house:

               Male X6 quarters:

               Bedroom 1: Paul and Peter both seventeen.

               Bedroom 2: Fox and Adam both fifthteen.  

               Bedroom 3: Thaddeus and Templeton both seventeen.

               Bedroom 4: Dante eighteen.

               Bedroom 5: Gary eighteen.

               Bedroom 6: Reece eighteen.

               Bedroom 7: Carson eighteen.

               Bedroom 8: Axel and Pierce both seventeen.

               Bedroom 9: Nick and Jeremiah both fifthteen.

               Bedroom 10: Hobie seventeen.

               Bedroom 11: Reilly seventeen.

               Bedroom 12: Russ fifthteen and Brad sixteen.

Five Bedroom Apartment:

               Bedroom 1: Cassidy and Rianne both sixteen.

               Bedroom 2: Naomi and Tara sixteen both sixteen.

               Bedroom 3: Melody and Renee both fifthteen.

               Bedroom 4: Kim and Anna both fifthteen

               Bedroom 5: Brooke fifthteen and Jessica fifthteen.

               Late evening.

               Ames finally returned home and swiftly entered the apartment.

               Will rushed from the lounge and met him at the door looking intensely relieved as she hugged him.

               Ames returned the embrace and tenderly kissed her. "Hey Will are you and the babies okay?"

               "Ames we're fine. Are you okay I was starting to worry." Will asked arms still wrapped tightly around his waist her head pillowed against his chest.

               "Sorry Will, but I could hardly call, it might have got back to The Conclave…….I was at a meeting with a priestess…….." Ames apologetically told her as he stroked her back soothingly. "I haven't heard any word on the commandos. Oh I got that photo for Ray actually I put a few in an envelope."

               Will smiled and nodded and stopped hugging him so that he could take off his coat which he immediately did. "Great he'll be thrilled to have them. Have you eaten, I'll make you something Alec and I ate ages ago."

               "Yeah I had something earlier, I just want to relax in front of the television for a while okay." Ames said sounding tired, he then walked past her into the lounge and flopped onto the sofa. "Hello 494."

               Alec was relaxing in an armchair. "Hi…… tough day huh?"

               "Yeah." Ames replied obviously not wanting to talk, Alec got the message and returned his attention to the film that was on.

               Will had followed and settled next to Ames on the sofa, he automatically put his arm around her waist and she leant into him.

               They watched the television in silence for the next thirty four minutes then, they all got ready for bed.

               Will and Alec had managed to find some long thin rope upon which to hang the two mobiles so that they were a foot and a half above the cribs.

               Ames entered the bedroom, softly closing the door behind him, removed the stiff protective envelope containing the photographs of himself from his suit jacket pocket and placed it onto the drawers. "The photos." He told Will who smiled at him.

               "I'll make sure he gets them." She promised still smiling. "Mind if I choose one for myself?"

              Ames was removing both his gun holsters as Will talked, he smiled at her. "No of course not I was kind of hoping that you'd want one for yourself." He responded as he quickly shucked his clothes then he went over to say goodnight to his sleeping sons and stopped when he spotted the mobiles above the makeshift cribs and the soft toy placed at the end of each. She wants one! Nice mobiles wonder where they came from?

               "Of course I want one for myself if I can't have you…." Will stated and shrugged her right shoulder. "I know I have an eidetic memory but a photo's nice too."

                Ames gave her a dazzling smile the turned his attention back to the mobiles. "Who made the mobiles?" he asked after he had quietly studied them for a few minutes. "They're exquisite. And where did the stuffed animals come from?" He queried as he swiftly climbed into the super king size bed.

               "The soft toys came from Max, O.C., Sketchy and Ray…Normal. Kincaid's cat Panthro is from Max, Kit's rabbit Thumper is from O.C, the dog is Scottie Normal gave him to Kyle and Sketchy gave King Kong the gorilla to Kieran, I asked them to name their gifts. The cubs absolutely love them! Logan gave me two bags full of baby stuff including bottles and a breast pump." Will replied as she snuggled into his chest.

               "Oh that was nice of them. Bottles and a breast pump they'll come in handy." Ames replied smiling, as he put his arms around her, and refrained from saying anything about 452 being near his sons.

               "Normal gave me a box of chocolates but I'm afraid Alec and I ate them all." Will confessed sounding guilty.

                "Knowing your sweet tooth I'm not surprised! Just so long as you don't O.D on sugar!" Ames laughed remembering her stunt in the car to get at his bar of chocolate. I'll remember that chocolate works on her even 494 told me that!

               "I won't! The night that Ray called you was the first time I'd done that in years since I was fourteen! Manticore fixed it in the youngsters X6 and below, so I didn't really think about what I was eating… I just joined in with their meal…..  only hit me that I'd OD'D on sugar when I asked you what you were wearing and got the giggles." Will grinned at him.

               Ames grinned back at her. "So who made the beautiful mobiles or were they bought by Logan?"

               "Joshua." Will stated. "I told you he got the artistic genes."

               "The dogman?" Ames asked in surprise.

               "Yes." Will calmly confirmed.

               "He's crazy! He tried to kill me…. He's gone feral just like his brother! You are not to let him near our sons!" Ames ordered though he was careful to keep his voice down so as to not awaken said sons.

               Will growled at him and moved out of his embrace. "You killed Annie! What did you expect him to do kiss you? Joshua is the kindest and gentlest of all the adult Transgenics! He would never harm our sons because they are my children!" She also kept the volume of her voice down.

               "He was going to break my back!" Ames snarled glaring at her.

               "Ames if you hadn't figured out yet never go after Joshua because he can and will kill you, he didn't get my programming! Oh and in case the rest of the incident at Jam Pony has slipped your mind that kind of a reprieve won't happen again."  Will automatically and sarcastically warned him.

               "He's gone crazy just like that cop killing brother of he's!" Ames snapped.

               "Do you want to know what turned Isaac crazy before you make snap judgements!" Will growled glaring at him.

               "Okay so tell me." Ames replied sarcastically and continued to glare at her.

               "Your father abandoning him! He pined day and night for about a week! The guards finally got fed up and tried beating him, that didn't work so they performed surgery and removed his vocal cords! While he was awake! Tied down and awake they removed his vocal cords after days of beatings and all because the child wanted his father!" Will snarled incredibly upset at what had been done to her brother.  

               "I'm sorry I didn't know." Ames automatically replied and reached out to comfort his obviously upset lover. Damn it! I've upset her again! Me and my big mouth! Damn!

               "I was damn lucky I wasn't on the base! I heard what had happened from Joshua, if I'd been there I'd have gone crazy too! I would have wanted to comfort him so I would have been in telepathic contact, I would have felt everything! I hadn't learnt how to block the empathic part of my gift yet!" Will told him moving further away from him.

               Ames looked at her in shock, he let his arms fall back to his sides, more from learning more about Will's gift that their sons had probably inherited if his Father had done as he had hoped, than from about what had happened to Isaac. "Killing cops and security guards….."   

               "Who were dressed in uniforms that made him think they were Manticore guards!" Will instantly defended having guessed her brother's reasoning months before when Max had relayed the incident.

               "Okay Will I'm sorry that I made the crack……I didn't know what they did to him…..I didn't think about your feelings towards him or Joshua." Ames sincerely apologized. Damn it! I didn't mean to upset her! Idiot!             

               "He couldn't bear to see anyone or anything in pain…. He was such a sweet and gentle kid…. He was a couple of years older than me but there was an accident at his birth he was starved of oxygen……. he was brain damaged….. When they did that to him he was a teen but had the mental age of a three year old…… They …they turned him into a raving killer." Will told him tears rolling down her face as she pictured sweet gentle Isaac being beaten then having his vocal cords removed, she moved into Ames arms.

               Ames just tightly hugged her with one arm and stroked her soothingly with the other as she quickly cried herself to sleep. Damn it! Why'd I have to make that crack! Why'd I have to remind her! I hate seeing her upset! I hate it when I upset her!