Vicki was getting ready to leave when Henry stepped in front of her.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked.
"Let's see, kissed the babies, got my cell phone, what else, what else, "she said looking around as if she were looking for something she had forgotten..Henry rolled his eyes and shifted his feet.
"OH, this.." she grabbed his face and kissed him playfully.
"There, that's it!" she said giggling at his face.
"Very funny and yes that was one thing but actually, you are taking me."
"Excuse me? So, who will be here with my children?" she put her hands on her hips.
"Yes, OUR children will be taken care of. I've arranged, " just then the doorbell rang and he glanced back at her, "for a sitter. Someone you trust, someone you can count on." He opened the door and there stood-Coreen?
"No offense Henry but what does Coreen know about taking care of two infants." Vicki's lack of happiness in this situation was more than apparent.
"I brought help anyway, but thanks for the LACK of confidence Vicki," Coreen said as she humphed past Vicki. Behind Coreen was a short woman, about Coreen's age.
"Vicki, Henry, this is Clark's sister..."
"WAIT, " Vicki bowed her head and held up her hand, " let me guess. Lois?" Vicki said trying to bite a smile away.
"Yeah, you're amazing.." Coreen said, not getting the joke.
"Okay," Vicki managed to eek out. "Let's go before I change my mind becuase I KNOW that you left specific instructions about m..our children's care." She stared Henry down.
"Of course," He looked around Vicki to Coreen and Lois,"everything you need is in the kitchen including detailed instructions. They are in the downstairs mother-in-law quarters in their bassinet." Vicki was already heading that way as Henry was finishing instructions.
Vicki tip-toed into the room, bent over the bassinet, gently rubbing each sleeping baby's back with her left hand, she whispered, "I love you two more than life itself and if anything happens to you, I will personally kill the person responsible.." With that sweet talk from their mother, the two stirred just a little and Vicki kissed her hand, then laid it on each of their little fat cheeks one at a time.
She turned around to see that she had a crowd and yes, they had heard her.
"And I meant it too." She marched between them as if she had just said, "have a nice day", no big deal.
"Vicki, you really have to start trusting..." Henry started to say to her in the car. She stopped him with her hand.
"No I don't. I trust you Henry, I trust myself and maybe, "she said shrugging her shoulders, "my mother if the occassion calls, but no one else and I'm sorry, if this case weren't so important you wouldn't be here."
Henry knew that the time for him to say little had arrived. The rest of the ride was quiet. Henry could sense Vicki's apprehension so he took her hand, knowing his touch would calm her somewhat.
Mike and Clark were at the office as Vicki had asked. Clark had explained to Mike where Coreen was. Mike shot an eyebrow up at Vicki and she made a fist at him, he backed down ,he too knew better.
They all filed into Vicki's office. Clark had some new information for them.
"We think, rather the Fae council thinks, they know who is behind this," he told them.
"Well, who and where?" Vicki wanted answers, she knew time was running short.
"Um, it is a fairy, I'm sorry to say but one that has become possessed, not just demented."
"Possessed by what?" Vicki wanted to know, yet afraid to ask.
"By a demon sent here to open yet another doorway, "
No, no no no...Vicki's heart started to pound, Henry could hear it. Her face paled and she felt faint. Henry took her hand but she pulled away.
"Who, tell us Clark" Vicki was gritting her teeth, taking step toward the fairy.
Clark gulped, "One you know Vicki Nelson, the one who branded you..Asteroth.."
Vicki then screamed out loud, pounding her fists into her desk, "NOOOOOOOO...!!"