# 8

"She can do what?" Claire shouted. "Why haven't you told me anything about this? I've seen her four or five times in the last two weeks and you never said a word!"

"We weren't sure if it was a fluke or not. I mean.... who knows, right?" Bobby rationalized.

"Fine, but I'm not just her Godmother, I'm her pediatrician. I need to be kept abreast of her abilities and how they're progressing. If something were to go wrong and you hadn't kept me in the loop...."

"Okay, okay. we get it, Claire. From now on, we'll call you the minute anything changes, alright?" Darien reassured the frantic blonde.

"I should hope so." Claire told them, next addressing herself to the smiling little girl in her arms. "Now, darling. Do you feel like showing me this little adjustment to your talent, hmmm?"

A moment later, a clear image of Bobbi holding her arms open appeared in Claire's mind. It was followed by a heart and an image of the doctor herself. Claire immediately teared up and hugged Bobbi close.

"I love you too, little one. More than you'll ever know."

"Lemme guess. She's forgiven you for all the stuff you and I went through while I was fightin' off the QSM?" Darien asked.

"Apparently. This is amazing. She figured out how to do this all on her own?"

"So she says. She knew all along it should've been possible, it just took her some time to perfect it."

Bobby's eyes opened wide.

"Yeah! Remember that time in Betsy's office? You said the kid was frustrated 'cause she wanted to get through and couldn't."

"That's right. I do remember now.... What?" Darien said, in response to a sudden laugh from Claire.

"She's showing me a jar of jelly and a bowl of raw green beans."

"Ewww. So she wants...."

"Candy. I gave her a sugar-free jellybean a few days ago and she apparently liked it." Claire explained, digging into a jar and coming out with two of the small treats.

"Ohhhh. I get it now. Good deal on the sugar-free. Maybe we can keep her from ever cravin' the real stuff."

"Yes, that would be beneficial to her stomach and her future teeth. Alright, sweetie. Here's your prize for being so smart." She announced as she popped the candy into the baby's open mouth. Her scientist's brain kicking into gear, Claire decided to try something, even though she wasn't sure it would work. After a moment of thought, she first clearly visualized a man chewing, then the universal symbol for no over that image, then a cube of ice melting. Bobbi's face lit up and she laughed gleefully, sending Claire back the same final image to show that she understood. Claire was dumbfounded.

"What? What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Oh no. Not at all. Bobby, come here for a moment." Drawing him close, she whispered in his ear. He frowned, but acceded to her request.

"Okay. It won't work, but... okay."

"Do it more than once so she gets the idea, but don't push too hard."

"Right."

A minute or so later, he held out his hand to his daughter palm up. To his shock, she clapped hers on top of it, just as he'd shown in the picture he'd tried to send. Claire squealed with joy.

"I was right! She can receive from someone other than Darien! This is fantastic!"

When she realized both men suddenly looked somber instead of ecstatic, she sobered and questioned them. "Really, this is wonderful news. It means her telepathic abilities are growing and she's learning to control them."

"Yeah. There's somethin' we were discussin' the other night.... what if she doesn't talk?"

"There are techniques to encourage speech. I've been studying all the books I can get my hands on. I'll be ready when the three of you are. That isn't all, is it? Darien?"

"I love that she can do all this stuff. I mean, it can't ever make her more special to me than she is now, but... I think it's great. Thing is, it makes her a target too. It also makes more valuable to the fat man. You're not tellin' him about her are you, Claire? I know you wouldn't, but he can put some pretty heavy pressure on when he wants to..."

"No, of course I'm not! I will admit his attitude has shifted quite a bit in the right direction, but I still wouldn't trust the man as far as I could throw a Sumo wrestler."

"And he can't get at your records or your notes or anything?"

"Not since Alex got a hold of your pregnancy diary. The really vital papers and CD's I keep at home now. They're safe and so is your daughter."

"Thank God. I mean, I never doubted you, not really..."

"It's alright, Darien. You have to be suspicious and careful. I wouldn't expect anything less."

"Thanks. Um, Claire...."

"Yes?"

"Can I try one a'those jellybeans?"

"Have a handful."

Bobby took his share as well and the foursome all agreed that for sugar-free they weren't half bad.