Chapter 37
West Tennessee Detention Facility
Mason, TN
For whatever reason they had no contact with anyone outside their cell the day they arrived. Two bunks and three men meant that someone should have slept on the floor. Luke was actually not surprised when Spencer and Sin elected to share the bottom bunk. "You two are so skinny you'll fit anyway." He said as he climbed into the top one.
He was snoring before the lights went out.
Some time in the night Spencer woke. He was shocked, almost disturbed, by how good it felt, even here, even like this, to sleep with Sin in his arms, Sin's head tucked under his chin. Sleeping with his cat, he thought. "Are you awake?" He murmured low enough to not wake the other man If he was.
"Yeah." Sin murmured back, "Trying not to splinch keeps you from sleeping, really."
"Are you going to die from this?"
"No."
One word but Spencer could almost taste the lie. "Sin…"
"It's not technically dying. You just shift all of your mass to another dimension, so you don't have an anchor to pull back. You could still be alive over there. Damn it." He whimpered a little as he flashed again.
What disturbed Spencer was not the light, it was that in that moment Sin felt unsubstantial in his arms. Like he could cross them right through the other man's body. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault. You thought you were just doing a favor to a friend."
"I keep thinking if I had taken Essa up on his offer, if I had my powers, this might not have happened."
"Honestly? Probably not." Sin sighed a little. "Just tell me one thing."
"What?"
"When we get out of this, when you get your powers, are you going to claim me? Because if you did, I think I'd be really happy."
Spencer did not have to think too hard. "In that case, yes."
Sin pressed closer, and sharing a bunk became something more.
When breakfast came around a peek out the door window told Luke that they were being served by a trustee, another prisoner with the duty. When the pass opened and the trays were passed through he asked the man in Spanish first where they were and what time and day it was. Monday, he said. Seven-thirty. In Macon, Tennessee.
"Take my breakfast." Sin said to Spencer.
"You need to eat." Spencer replied.
"Seven-thirty." Luke said. "Is Macon Eastern standard or Central?"
"Not as badly as you do." Sin said to Spencer. "Feeling dizzy yet? Foggy in the head?"
"Yeah, For a day now. And it's getting worse. Central." Spencer said to Luke.
"Eat it. Last thing we need is you in a coma. Besides, it would just fall out of my stomach anyway."
"All right."
"Which means it's eight-thirty in Quantico. Which means that Peggy, Roxy's babysitter, has already called Chica to see why I haven't picked up my girl yet. How long do you think to sort out what happened."
"Thirty more minutes." Spencer replied.
"How long until they get lawyers in here?"
"Better question, how long before they tell Lira." Sin replied.
"Probably right away." Luke replied. "SOP, contact family."
"All right. We have an hour." Sin replied.
"Think she'll get lawyers here that fast?"
"Kinda."
There was the sound of the door being unlocked. It opened to two guards, standing there with a cart full of cups of pills. "Reid!" The guard called out. "Med time!"
"I'm not on any medication." Spencer protested.
"You want me to shove it down your throat?" The guard replied.
"Don't fight it." Luke said. "We got your back." He helped Spencer to his feet and got him shuffling in the right direction.
Spencer took the cup they gave him, brushed the hair from his face, took the pills and then the cup of water. "Let's see it." The guard ordered. Spencer obediently opened his empty mouth. "Right. See you at lunch." They locked the door behind them.
"Could you get some toilet paper please." Spencer said as he did an about face and shuffled straight back until Sin caught his leg and stopped him. "And bring it here."
"Sure." Luke said. He brought over a few sheets and handed them to Spencer. "Why?"
Spencer spilled a handful of pills into the paper. "I want to see what they tried to give me." He twisted them into the paper and rolled it up in his sleeve for safe keeping.
"How the hell did you do that?" Luke asked.
"Magic."
Sin started laughing. "Damn Nobles."
Luke nodded. "I see how it's going to be."
Spencer was quiet for a long moment. "They singled me out. That implies this is about me."
"Someone did try to poison you." Sin said.
"Nah, that was a different group." Luke replied.
"Sure?"
"If it's not we're in bigger trouble."
QSS Dropship #297
Over Macon, TN
"All right." Sa'rai said. "We're in the well. Covering down in three….two…one…"
A grey skin enveloped the ship and the computer took over. For the next few moments there was nothing for a pilot to do. "So, why are we doing this again?" Stout Will asked.
"Sin's in trouble."
"Try again."
"No, really. If it wasn't for Lira having first claim he'd be House." She checked the instruments. "He almost had your job, you know."
"Doubtful." He flashed her that soft grin. "If it was just him you'd send a team down there to sneak him out. You wouldn't be doing all of this."
"I told you, I'm protecting my corners." Sa'rai replied. "I'm tired of people treating my Nobles like weapons to be traded on the black market or something. They're people, they deserve respect."
"And this has nothing to do with the interest you've shown in this one?"
"Not at all."
"Bad liar."
"Shouldn't you be flying the ship?"
"Not at the moment. I think you have a thing for lost boys. And this one is the ultimate lost boy. Just like that brother of yours."
"And unlike my brother there are no Earther taboos in the way. Your point?"
"There is that matter of divided loyalty. He's not interested in your House."
"That might actually be part of the appeal."
Stout Will smiled, more sincerely. "Good." The computer beeped and the heat shielding retracted. Time to actually fly again. "Coming up on the landing area. There's a lot of metal in the way."
"Any bodies?"
"No. It doesn't look very sturdy. Our backwash should flatten it if you point the engines at it."
"That's easy enough." Sa'rai piloted the ship over and around the rows of light metal until they made a flat enough area for her to land. She could see movement in the large, multi-story concrete structure in front of them. She checked the instruments. "They're in there. Unfortunate sort of place. Looks like they know we're here."
"Not exactly creeping, you know. I'll let the sergeants know." He went back and spoke to the squad leaders, telling them what they saw up ahead. When he came back she was deep in thought. "Everything all right?"
She shook her head the tiniest amount before she came back to herself. "No, Sin's in trouble. Let's not dawdle." She left the bridge and walked boldly to the side hatch, heading out to meet a team of what looked like guards coming out to meet them as the teams of space marines headed out the back. "Gentlemen." She said in flawless, lightly accented English. "I'm not here to disrupt your operations, but you're holding two of my citizens. Bring them out to me."
The one in front looked confused but shook his head. "Lady, I don't care what you want. I ain't bringing anyone out of here."
Sa'rai smiled faintly. "That was not a request." She said.
The wall of the building exploded outward.
