Authors Notes: This chapter expands more on the communication (wink wink) between Melanie and Wanda. It's pretty interesting stuff.

DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me they belong to Stephanie Meyer's author of the wonderful book 'The Host'

Chapter 9: Communication

Mel's POV

I felt something reach below my back and lift from under my knees. I was being carried. I opened my eyes. "Jared?" I said sleep still blurring my vision.

"It's alright honey." He said softly. "We stopped at a hotel and Ian got us a room. We're gonna rest up before meeting Burns tomorrow."

I heard a click and a door opening, "How'd Ian get a key?"

Jared chuckled, "Remember he's Wanda's boyfriend. He watches her very closely."

I rubbed my eyes and looked around as Jared set me on one of the beds.

Ian had walked over to the other bed and was stripping off his shirt.

I looked back at Jared who was doing the same. "Well I feel left out." I muttered.

Jared chuckled and laid in the bed next to me, "It's ok Mel. Once we get a room to ourselves I'll help you take off your shirt."

I felt like blushing but hit his shoulder. I looked over at Ian again. He had laying on his back and was looking at the ceiling.

"You ok Ian?" I asked.

"Just thinking." He said and rubbed his eyes. They were almost back to normal. Still a little red. "Thinking about Wanda."

I nodded. "Well she's been away from us for what almost three days? She's just fine. Probably bathing in big bathtubs and painting her toenails."

He smirked, "Sure Mel. Whatever you say." He turned and laid on his side facing away from Jared and I.

I laid my head on the pillow and yawned, "I'm worried about him Jared." I whispered.

He nodded, "The sooner he sees her, if it's only for a moment and from a far, he'll be just fine."

I smirked at him as he slid his arm around my waist and pulled me close with his hand resting on the small of my back, "He's gonna want much more than to just see her."

He nodded, "He'll have to deal with it. We can't sneak him in anywhere to be with her until we know what we're dealing with."

I laid there thinking, "What if we could tell where she was without having to just guess?"

He looked at me curiously, "What are you talking about."

I smiled. "I could tell where she is using our connection." I said in a normal tone.

"Good idea. Get on that." Ian said.

Jared looked confused. I kissed him, "I'll tell you tomorrow."

I kept my eyes closed whenever I could. I knew I had to concentrate to get the connection. But I had to wait till she did her end…. Whatever that was. I wasn't exactly sure how this would work but I had to try.

"What exactly do you mean that you and Wanda are still connected?" Jared asked.

I groaned, "I had her in my head again for a couple minutes when we were back in the caves. We were connected. I don't know what else I can say Jared."

"Maybe it's because you were thinking about her and maybe she was thinking about you." Ian said from the driver's seat.

I nodded, "Maybe." I wanted so bad to understand this connection so I wouldn't put Jared, Ian and Burns in unnecessary danger. The more I think about it Burns walking in to ask about a human kidnap victim didn't seem like such a safe plan. "Come on Wanda." I muttered.

I kept my eyes closed as I listened to cars passing and heard the sounds of a city. She couldn't go an entire day not thinking about me right? We'd been so close, we were sisters, she had shared my body and we'd shared thoughts for months. I groaned in frustration.

"Give it time Mel." Jared said grabbing my hands.

I tried to keep my mind on Wanda but it was hard for me to think entirely of her with Jared's hands in mine. "Jared." I said my eyes still closed, "You touching me isn't helping my concentration."

I heard him chuckle, "Sorry baby." He took his hands from mine.

I tried to think of how it'd felt when Wanda was in my head, when we shared one mind.

"Cheeto's!"

I gasped. That was Wanda's voice. I concentrated.

My mind was fuzzy at first and then a picture swam in front of me.

"What?" A man asked. He was tall, brown hair with blonde roots and light green eyes.

I felt heat flush to my cheeks. No not mine, Wanda's. "Oh. Umm. I like Cheeto's."

"Wanda." I whispered. She jumped in my mind. I sighed, Thank god.

"Ummmm, I'll be back in a moment. I uhh forgot something." She said walking from the kitchen down a hall with some pictures and into a bathroom that looked like it was decorated in a 'ocean' theme.

She closed her eyes so it went dark. Mel? What the hell?

I chuckled, I spoke my words softly, "Wanda. Do you read me?"

"Yea." She whispered back, "It's nice to hear your voice even if it scared me half to death."

I chuckled again "I'm sorry but I had to get a hold of you. I've been here closing my eyes for almost an hour."

"Did you get her?" Ian asked excitedly from the front seat.

Ian?

She'd heard him. We were sharing a head again. "Wanda, if we lose connection sit with your eyes closed and think of me ok?" I felt her nod. And I opened my eyes.

I felt the car pull off to the side before I opened them and the car stopped when I opened my eyes. Jared was right in front of me and I saw Ian shut off the car and climb into the back.

"IAN!" Wanda mentally screamed though she said it quietly.

I felt myself flinch, "What?" Jared asked.

"She's excited to see and hear Ian. Almost bursted my mental ear-drums."

Ian and Jared chuckled as Wanda mentally apologized.

"Don't be sorry. Wanda. You wouldn't be sorry if you knew how glad we are to finally see a smile on Ian's face." I said

Ian smirked and grabbed one of my hands. "Wanda. Baby can you hear me?"

"Yes." She breathed.

"She hears everything I hear Ian." I said closing my eyes again scared of breaking the connection.

"Baby. I love you." He whispered, "I'm coming to get you. We'll be together soon."

Wanda's eyes were building tears. Tell him I love him. And I miss him more than I can say.

"She says 'I love you and she misses you more than she can say.'" I relayed her message. Then asked a question of my own. "Wanda where are you?" I whispered. I only spoke for the boys benefit.

"Oh. I'm in Washington. Seattle. The seekers contacted Cloud Spinner and she brought be back to their place in Seattle."

I exhaled, "Thanks god." I breathed.

"Where is she?" Jared asked.

"Seattle." I said, "It'll be easier to collect you from there Wanda."

I felt her stand and open her eyes to open the door, Don't be so sure Mel. There's seekers outside and then there's Landon in here. She smiled, though he won't be a problem.

I cocked my head to the side, "Why not?"

I'll tell you when I see you. We'll most likely have to meet somewhere that isn't the house and come up with a plan. She walked to the bright front room with dark furniture and peaked through the curtains.

There were two silver cop cars out front. There was a seeker in each. I nodded, "Alright. Maybe a mall. Somewhere public where it wouldn't look weird to have us talking."

"Mel what's going on?" Jared and Ian asked.

"Shush." I snapped trying to concentrate. Silent from now on.

There's a park not far from the house. Landon and I went there last night. It's be good.

I scrunched up my face in frustration, When I get there you need to tell me who the hell this Landon is.

She nodded and closed her eyes again, When will you guys get here?

Couple days. I thought, we'll have to drive. We're still in Arizona; we just escaped Jeb's.

Why would you need to escape Jeb's? That's where I want to escape too. She thought, her thoughts conveying her irritation with me.

He didn't want us to leave to come get you till the situation with the 'rouge kidnapping humans' was cooled down. But I don't think that Ian could take not coming. And frankly I couldn't either.

She was touched, Mel. You didn't need to put anyone in danger for me.

The only danger we're in is with Jeb. He'll be really mad when we get back. But that's it. We have Jamie covering our tracks. I said.

She sucked in a breath remembering something. A brief and blurry picture of Ian and Jamie at our little meeting, it was real?

I sucked in a breath too, "Oh my god!" I whispered. Oopse.

"WHAT?" Ian asked with anger in his tone.

"She saw a glimpse of our meeting but I didn't feel here in my head."

I didn't feel you in my head till you said something. She said.

"She did?" Jared asked.

"This is very strange." I whispered.

"Pet! Will you come here please?" A male voice called.

I have to go! Wanda said her eyes opening.

I cringed from the sudden brightness of the yellow walls.

"Ok. Just think of me and I'll try to be receptive." I said a little sad.

Ok. Tell Ian I love him.

She was gone.

I opened my eyes, "We disconnected."

"Damn." Ian said sitting back.

I smiled at him, "She told me to say she loves you just before she left."

"So what's next Mel?" Jared asked as Ian got back into the driver's seat smirking.

"We're going to meet Burns and then we're going to Seattle." I said turning around to lay back into Jared's chest.

YEAH! Now we don't have to deal with more souls, they already know where Wanda is. If you've been wondering about this connection that Wanda and Melanie have I can tell you…. If you haven't figured it out yet. But you'll have to Review and ask me about it. See ya next chapter.