Chapter 12: Refresh and Renew

One minute Nattie was standing in the diner and the next she was grabbing onto the corner of Dennis's desk to keep from falling over. She blew her hair out of her eyes as she looked over her shoulder to Jack, who was slouching comfortably in a chair.

"I take it you've done that before," she asked.

Jack was still dabbing at his lip, but the swelling in his cheek was already beginning to recede.

"Sure. I always think of it as a trip to the principle's office," he said with a shrug. "You'll get used to it after a while…assuming you get to stick around."

"Blow me, Ferriman. I'm not going anywhere."

"We'll see."

Their verbal sparring was interrupted as Dennis appeared behind his desk. He tossed the stack of red folders he had been holding onto the desktop and sat in his chair.

"Fine mess you've got me in," he said flatly as he flipped through the first folder.

Jack sat up abruptly as Dennis held a stack of papers aloft. "That's my contract," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. What was Dennis up to?

"This was your contract," Dennis amended as the papers burst into flame and disappeared with the smoke. "Unfortunately, you've forced me to make a few adjustments due to your actions over the past few days."

"Dennis, you can't just void my contract," Jack said. He felt drops of sweat gathering on the back of his neck.

"I didn't say I was voiding it, Jackie-boy. I said I made adjustments. Don't get antsy."

Dennis rifled through the folders and pulled out a new stack of papers. He took a black feather quill and began making notes before glancing up at Natalia.

"Miss Bennett, do sit down. I'll get to you momentarily."

Nattie sat, casually draping one leg over the arm of the chair that appeared next to Jack. She was watching his reaction to Dennis's actions, noting he was trying not to appear nervous. The fact that he was nervous in the first place set her on edge. Ferriman was a seasoned Soul Collector, so anything that got him sweating could not be good.

Jack glanced at Nattie, surprised to see her watching him so intently. He turned his attention back to watching Dennis write.

What? he asked Nattie telepathically.

Why are you so scared? she asked.

I am not scared. But if I were, it would be because we--and by we, I mean mostly you--have gotten ourselves in deep shit.

How deep? Nattie's voice had a distinctly panicked tone.

Jack met her eyes and looked solemn.

Real Deep, he replied.

"Ah, there." Dennis said as he finished writing with a flourish.

"So what's up, Dennis?" Jack asked, trying to look bored. "Why the dramatics?"

Dennis laced his fingers together and leaned forward. "I've managed to pull a few strings and get you your old position back. Shoving you back out to sea spares me the extra work you've managed to pile up since your probation. So, you're back on nautical collections effective immediately."

He passed over Jack's new contract and pointed a finger at him. "Sign it at the bottom. You have one shot Ferriman. Screw up again, and I would imagine the Corporate Office would be less than thrilled."

Jack visibly relaxed as he took the contract and pen that Dennis offered him. Using the tip of the quill, he pierced his fingertip and signed at the bottom of the paper with his blood.

"So is that it or are there other cliches that we can have a go at?" he said, handing the paper back over the desk.

"How refreshing to see your arrogance back in place," Dennis said dryly. "Miss Bennett, you've been rather subdued for the past few moments," he said, turning a icily charming smile on Nattie. "Would you like to discuss your future in front of Mr. Ferriman, or would you rather discuss it privately?"

Nattie straightened in her chair and crossed her legs, attempting a calm facade. "What is there to discuss, Dennis? I work for you now."

"Hmm, yes. But unfortunately you failed to complete your trial assignment. Add to that the fact that you didn't sign a contract and I'm afraid there isn't much call for your employment."

Jack watched Nattie as Dennis delivered that news. He could feel the tension radiating off her in waves. She was broadcasting her feelings as loud as a nightclub DJ on a Saturday night.

"Fortunately for you, Miss Bennett, I absolutely detest New England and therefore I am prepared to put this whole incident behind me."

He passed a stack of papers over the desk to her and rose. "Just sign there at the bottom and we can all be on our merry way."

"This says I'm being terminated due to 'technical interference'. What does that mean?"

"Is she going to the Corridors?" Jack asked. He was strangely opposed to that decision.

"Due to the fact that Miss Bennett was still very much alive when she came into our service," Dennis said with a thanks-to-you look at Jack, "then she will be returned unscathed and with her soul intact."

He walked across the room to a bookshelf and removed a bottle. Nattie recognized it as the vial that Dennis had been holding when she had undergone the change.

"Our damage control team has already serviced the diner. Your friends remain unharmed and unaware that anything out of the ordinary happened. They remember nothing of Jack, except that the two of you went out a couple of times."

"Why have them remember him at all?" Nattie asked.

"Future reference," Dennis said.

Nattie wasn't sure what exactly that meant, but it was likely not a good thing.

"I don't want to go back, Dennis. I do not accept this pink slip," she said, tossing the paper back on the desk. "Sorry," she said snidely.

Big mistake! she heard Jack say in her mind.

Natalia gasped as her chair slid across the room to Dennis. He placed his hands on the arms of the chair and leaned in until he was nose-to-nose with her. His irises burned a deep emerald green as his pupils dialated. Nattie was captivated by those eyes and was unable to look away or even blink.

"You obviously confused my decision for an open negotiation, for surely you would not be so idiotic as to argue with me," Dennis said. His voice was deep and slightly accented. It also sounded as though more than one person was speaking, which really freaked Nattie out.

"I will spell it out for you in terms that even the simplest of fools can comprehend. You sign that fucking paper, or I will walk you to the Corridors myself, after I've had a bit of stress therapy," he said. Nattie didn't feel like giving thought as to what Dennis would consider stress therapy.

She gave a nod, her golden eyes still locked on his and a small gasp escaped her when the paper and pen appeared in her lap.

Dennis straightened and tugged on his suit jacket before smoothing a hand through his hair. As Nattie finished signing, the paper rolled up and disappeared.

"Now then," Dennis said, his voice once again normal. "One little trip back to your house and I'll give you your soul back. Jack, I'm sending you out now. Say your goodbyes and be quick. I have other things to do today."

"I have nothing to say to him," Nattie said flatly.

"You're sure? I mean, you were lovers," Dennis pointed out nastily. He smirked and had a dimple in his left cheek winking. "Jack? Anything to say to the lovely Miss Bennett before you go? It could be quite a while before you run into each other again."

Jack took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag. Dennis cleared his throat and Jack smiled before putting it out in the jade ashtray on the desk.

"Yeah, I got something to say." He walked to Nattie and cupped her face, leaning her head back and kissing her. Her tongue slipped out automatically, seeking the taste of him. Jack broke the kiss and his cold silver eyes held her golden ones. "Thanks for the sex. Best I've had in, oh, ten years or so."

He laughed as her eyes flashed and she shoved him away from her. "You motherf---"

The room disappeared before she had finished and Jack was kissed by the smell of a salty breeze as he appeared on the deck of a cruise ship.

Natalia gaped at Dennis. "Are we going now?"

The words were scarcely out of her mouth before she fell to the floor in a heap. Her floor. More specifically, her cold concrete garage floor. She rubbed her now throbbing elbow and glared at Dennis. "A little warning would be nice, ya know."

"I know. But is so much fun to see the newbies fall out every time you shift somewhere."

He surprised her by helping her to her feet. He withdrew the vial from his coatpocket. "Take off your shirt," he said.

"What?"

"Your shirt. Take it off. This is pretty much a reversal of the extracting process," Dennis explained. "So I am going to have to have physical contact in order to make sure everything goes in its proper place."

Nattie grinned mischiveously and pulled the t-shirt slowly over her head, tossing it carelessly over her shoulder.

Dennis uncorked the vial and breathed in the stream of green smoke that snaked out. He then placed his fingertips on Nattie's chin. Leaning so close that their lips touched, he gently blew the smoke in between her parted lips.

As the smoke entered her mouth, he lightly trailed his fingers down her throat, flattening his palm and pressing a bit harder as he smoothed his hand over her chest. The last of the smoke crossed his lips, and he let his hand rest over her heart. He began whispering words of unknown origin and a sharp burning pain streaked through Nattie's body. She cried out weakly, and just when she began to think that she would die from it, the pain subsided to a dull ache.

"This soul swapping thing is for the birds, man," she said hoarsely. She sat on the hood of her car and bowed her head.

"You'll have a bit of guilt, but you didn't do much. All should be back to normal in a day or so," Dennis said. "Ok then, now that everything is taken care of here for now, I'll be off."

"Whoa. What do you mean 'for now'?" Nattie asked.

Dennis just smiled and flicked his wrist, disappearing in a tunnel of blue flame.