“Me neither. I don’t usually get the giggles,” Rich agreed, eyeing Sam.
She shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I get them a lot. Mike and I used to drive the folks crazy when a case of the giggles struck us.”
“Always at the worse possible times too. Remember Oxford?”
“Oh god, the headmaster wanted to kill us. We were sitting through a lecture on something incredibly boring—”
“Quantum physics.”
“Whatever, and the guy was talking about properties of different metals and how they affected the absorption rate of something—”
“Subatomic particles.”
“Yeah, and he said aluminum. Only he pronounced it al-loo-men. It sounded so funny, I started to giggle. Then Mike caught it. Next thing you know, we were asked to leave because we were being disruptive.”
“The headmaster called Dad to come get us. I was sixteen and Sam was only twelve. She wasn’t even supposed to be there, but refused to go with Dad to the hospital lecture. Dad started to read us the riot act in front of the headmaster and we lost it again. It’s amazing that man has any hair left with dealing with the two of us.”
“You would think he would be used to it. He tried so hard to keep a straight face, too. He lost it when the headmaster joined in.”
“Trust me, there is nothing funnier than an old English guy who can’t control his laughter. That’s the only reason I wasn’t kicked out. And the reason they accepted Sam when her time came.”
“What did your dad do when you guys left?” Jen asked.
“We were grounded for two weeks. That lasted, what?”
“Three days. Daddy couldn’t stand having us in the hotel with nothing to do. We drove him positively bonkers.”
“Get in here, now!” Scott ordered, sticking his head around the corner. The four obeyed, a stray giggle escaping now and then.
***
Rich sat up in bed, confused and disoriented. He looked at the clock... 2:45 am. Shaking the cobwebs from his head, he threw on a robe and walked outside to the deck.
“What are you doing up?” Michael asked, turning as he slid the door open.
“I don’t know. Just woke suddenly. And you?”
“So, you both heard it too,” Sam said, coming up from behind them.
“What are you talking about?”
“The announcement. A blue was born,” she said dreamily.
“Sam? Are you sleepwalking?” Michael asked, waving his hand in front of her face.
She shook her head. “No, just connected. Because it’s such a big event, the entire population announces it. Rich was integrated last night, Michael. They brought him in.”
“How did that happen?”
Sitting down, Sam explained, in detail, the occurrences. Rich stayed quiet, not completely comfortable with sharing the details of his sex life with her older brother. She patted his leg. “Rich, relax. This is science. It also changed you. Couldn’t you tell?”
“I do feel different. More relaxed, for sure. I can’t lose my edge, though.”
“You won’t. It only lasts a couple of days. That’s why you were being a smart ass tonight. I liked it, though.”
“Me, too. It was a side I hadn’t seen before. One that was very funny,” Michael added. “It really confused Scott, which made it even better.”
“You guys love to fuck with Scott, don’t you?” Rich scolded, seeing them nod. He sighed, agreeing it was fun, except for the head slap.
“He knows how to land those, for sure.” Michael rubbed the back of his head thinking about it. “So what are you guys going to do about this new found discovery? Besides the obvious.”
“I’d like to do more experimenting.” Sam snickered.
Rich sighed. “I know you would. I’d like to just remember some of it. Mike, I’m telling you, it was wild. Like being on happy gas. I don’t like not being in control.”
“That’s because you’re a control freak. You need to let it go,” Sam insisted.
Rich shook his head. “It’s not safe to let it go. We have to be able to maintain some sort of sensibility, even in the safest of times. I need to find out how your father can block it so well. But, how do I go about it without revealing our, uh, adventure?”
“Rich, he already knows you guys never made it to the six month mark, okay? He’s not stupid. Mostly, he’s a scientist. Go about it in that direction and I promise you that he’ll stay professional.”
“After he strangles me for doing his daughter.”
“He knows already. He’s obviously okay with it, given the circumstances. As long as you don’t try to move her out of here or get her to defy him, he’ll be supportive. You have to trust me on this,” Michael said seriously.
“Trust you on what, Michael?” Dr. Quimby’s low voice was heard from behind them. “What are you guys doing up? It’s a school night.”
“Couldn’t sleep, Pop. We were brainstorming,” Michael said, making room for his father to join him on the bench.
Dr. Quimby beckoned to his daughter, who immediately climbed onto his lap to snuggle. “Odd. I had the weirdest dream. All I could think of was to come out here.”
“About the baby being born?” Sam asked quietly.
He looked at her with surprise. “A blue whale baby. Are you kidding me?”
“No sir, we all had it,” Rich said.
Dr. Quimby shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but we need to get to the bottom of it. Is it just us? If so, why?”
“Did Sam tell you about our wave findings?” Michael asked quietly. His father shook his head. Michael explained in detail, including the matches and fluctuations. He then added the information regarding Rich’s integration and Sam’s healing. Rich tried not to appear visibly unnerved as the man looked at him.
“You’re telling me that having sex with my baby daughter healed her from her illness?” He sounded perturbed.
“Daddy, I’m not a baby.”
“I, um, I couldn’t stop myself. I don’t even remember what happened, sir,” Rich said quietly.
Sam kissed her father’s cheek. “Don’t look at Rich like that. He took good care of me. Daddy, it was like nothing I could describe. I’m not talking about the sex, although… Anyway,” she caught Michael’s warning shake of his head, “mentally, we were caught in a whirling of voices and images, spinning and floating. If you would let me come in, I might be able to show you. How do you prevent my entry?”
“I told you, it’s like a REM pattern. If I increase my active thinking process, my mind doesn’t go into the Delta waves. I calculate PI or solve a chemistry equation. Very mathematical.”
“But what if I try to tap into the hypothalamus instead of the cerebellum?”
“Same idea. Instead of the thinking area, it’s instinctive. So I contemplate something creative, like a recipe or analyze a painting. The more complex, the easier it is to block you.”
“Can we try?”
“Not tonight. We’ll get together and monitor this. Richard?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Son, I know about your activity with Sammi. I don’t want either of you to get distracted or become complacent. I also don’t want to know details about your time together. I understand, believe me, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely at ease with it yet. She’s still too young.”
“Dad, she’ll be fifty and you’ll think she’s too young.”
“Probably. Wait until you have a daughter and you’ll understand. I hope she’s just like your sister.”
“What did I do to deserve that? I’ve served my time with her!”
“Since she can’t have one, you can make up the difference. You can also give the little monster to her aunt and uncle to deal with.” Dr. Quimby snickered.
“Pardon me, but I want a well-behaved child, not one influenced by the gremlin.”
Sam pouted. “I’m not that bad. You kept me around.”
“You’re the birthday present, I had
to.”
“Okay, go to bed, you three. You need to get up in another hour.”
“I’m going to just stay up, if you don’t mind. I’m not tired,” Rich said, leaning back on the recliner.
Michael nodded. “Me too.”
“Then I am too,” Sam echoed.
Dr. Quimby rolled his eyes. “Do what you want, but no complaining about being tired at work.”
“Daddy? May I swim in? Please?”
“It’s still nasty out there. No.”
“Please? I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“We could go with her, Dad. I mean, we’re up,” Michael added.
Sighing, Dr. Quimby nodded. “Oh, all right. One of these days, you will listen to me when I tell you ‘no’ instead of wearing me down.”
“I doubt it. See you at work,” Michael grinned.
“Let’s go, boys. I hear them calling for us,” Sam said, closing her eyes. They met on the deck ten minutes later and trotted down the wet steps to the dock.
“Are you sure you want to go out in this? It’s really rough,” Michael said cautiously, adjusting the band around his neck. Sam looked at him with disgust. An image of a jellyfish flashed in his mind.
Rich, also wearing a band, caught it. He chuckled. “Name calling? Is that the ocean version of a chicken shit?”
“Essentially. And I can’t get in trouble for it because no one else can hear. Come on, Mike, once you go under, everything will change.”
“Yeah, I’ll freeze my balls off. Ready Rich?”
“As much as I’m ever going to be. Damn, it’s cold.”
“You’ll warm up in a couple of minutes. Be careful swimming out – stay in the center of the inlet. We can meet Ton in the kelp beds away from the rocks,” Sam said, swimming away.
“Wait for us. I can’t see a damn thing,” Michael grumbled, trying to judge his position. “Rich, stay within reach. Go on under.”
“I’m with you.”
They sunk to the bottom and Michael turned on his light. Visibility was, once again, zero, and his sister was nowhere in sight. Grunting, he stayed on the bottom, following the deepest section of the inlet to prevent being pushed into the rocky jetty. They reached the shelf drop and swam into open water.
“Sam? Where the hell are you?” Michael snapped. No answer. “I’m going to kill her.”
“Me first. Samantha! Answer us now. Where are you?”
“Right here. Why are you two so nervous?” she asked, flitting around them.
Rich stretched out, capturing her arm. “You are to stay close, you hear me? No playing around when it’s like this.”
“You’re not my boss,” Sam answered back. The band sent images of a whirlpool. He was getting pissed.
“No, but I am. Lt. Quimby, you are under orders now. Consider this the field. One more point against you and you know what will happen when we get to work. Got it, girl?”
“Bite me, Michael. We are off duty and you can’t order me— OW!” she yelped, turning suddenly. Ton had come behind her, biting her foot. He flashed images of being in a net held by the other land walker and the large orca-male. He pushed sharply against her, shoving her to the bottom and holding her on the floor.
“Stop it, you’re hurting me!” she yelled, pushing his snout away. He released her, shoving her close to the two boys.
“I guess Ton let you know what he thinks of your defiance, little sister. Thanks, boy.” Michael said.
Rich nodded. “It sure does. That’s nothing compared to the talk you and I are going to have later about respecting your elders.”
“Or the one about obeying the orders of your superior officer,” Michael added.
Thoroughly annoyed, Sam attempted to swim off and was brought back by the whale. She was fuming as she struggled to escape his mouth. He let go when Rich took her arm.
“It looks like you have another protector out here. Let’s get to base. You are in so much trouble, little girl. SO much trouble,” Rich said in a low rumble. Sam shuddered. She did not like the sound of this.
CHAPTER NINE
Ton scooped them atop his back and, without asking, swam quickly to the tanks where he dumped them. The huge animal remained, swimming restlessly in his tank.
“What the hell is with you today?” Sam snapped at him. He spit water in her face, and then swam around again.
“No, what’s with you, Sam? What do you think you were doing out there?” Michael asked, rinsing off the wetsuit under the fresh shower.
“I wanted to swim. He’s never done that before!” She stomped her foot, glaring at the whale. He wasn’t communicating to her other than the image of an iceberg, and swam in circles in the tank. “And why won’t he leave? He hates the tank.”
“Maybe he wants to see you get your tail flukes bitten,” Rich said, arms crossed as he stared at her. Sam glared back, uncomfortable with the expression on his face, and dove back into the tank. She was immediately snatched up by Ton, who dropped her back on the ramp.
“Well, that answers one question. He’s not letting you go back out there,” Michael said, looking down at her dripping wet scowling face. “Get up here and hose off.”
“I don’t want to,” she grumbled.
Rich rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm, hauling her onto the deck. He flopped her over his knee and landed ten fast and heavy swats over her wetsuit, ignoring her demands to let go. “I have had enough of this attitude today. You will obey your brother and stop talking back. Got it?” he growled, pulling her up to see the tears in her eyes.
She stamped her foot, trying to pull away. “Leave me alone.”
“You are behaving like a spoiled child, Samantha. One more word and that suit comes down for a taste of my belt. I don’t care if Mike’s here or not. Understand me?” Rich whispered fiercely in her ear. She broke her stare from him and nodded.
Rich pointed to the door. “Go get changed into dry clothes. We will discuss our business later.”
“Sam? You are to go into my office when you’re dressed. Don’t push me either,” Michael added, walking towards Rich as she stomped away.
“What’s gotten into her?” Rich asked, peeling off the wetsuit and standing in his bathing trunks, his large muscles shivering with the cold. Michael joined him, hanging the suits to dry over the rail.
“I don’t know. This happens a lot. Mainly when she’s feeling either over confident or insecure. With her, who knows? Let’s go scare her a bit. Then go run to the store and grab us something to eat,” Michael said.
Sam gulped, seeing both stride in, arm muscles pumped and swollen from their swim. They seemed larger than life, same height, same build, and the same determined, serious look on their handsome faces. One bronze, the other gold. She mentally slapped herself on the forehead. What the hell was I thinking? Oh yeah, I wasn’t. Shit.
She waited silently as Michael entered his office and dressed in front of her. He was peeved, she could tell that much. He was tying his bootlaces when he finally spoke to her. “Do you want to tell me what got into you this morning, kiddo?” he asked looking at her briefly.
She glanced at the clock; it was only 0515, too much time to fill with procrastinating excuses. “I don’t know. The devil got hold of me again. I’m sorry.”
“You even pissed off Ton. I didn’t think that could happen.” He lifted his other boot to lace it tightly.
“I didn’t either. He didn’t want me in the water today. We probably have another storm front coming in or something.”
“Did you know this when we went down?”
“No. He tried to push me inland when he found me in the beds,” she admitted.
Michael leaned forwards, both feet flat on the floor, forearms on his thighs, fingers entwined, to look at her. She stared at her deck shoes. “I see. And you didn’t say anything to us because…”
“I wanted to swim.”
“You wanted to swim. Sam, it’s not always about what you want or don’t want. Other people are
involved. If there is a storm coming, Rich and I could have gotten seriously hurt. Wasn’t that the reason you went off on me during the last mission?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah. Look at me,” he ordered gently. Slowly, she looked up, meeting his bright blue eyes. He looked sad. “I’m going to have to punish you for this. You know that. It’s under my authority. This is the deal we made.”
“I’m sorry, Michael,” Sam whispered.
He pulled the long mahogany ruler out of his desk. “Yes, well, so am I. Why did you act like that in front of Rich? I feel for you. He’s not happy with your behavior. Close the blinds. I don’t want to take the chance that someone comes in early.”
Silently, Sam stood to obey. “Where’s Rich?”
“He went to get us some chow. He took the lab’s truck,” Michael said patiently, slapping the ruler against the palm of his hand. He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have to do this. Come here.”
“Please don’t, Mike. I promise I won’t do that again. I swear I won’t,” she begged, watching him sit in a straight-backed chair.
He held his hand out for her. “After this, you’ll think twice. You know what to do. Over my lap. Don’t make me fight you.”
“Mike, please!” She started to cry. He merely held his hand out without a word. Trembling, she took it and allowed him to position her across his knee, swallowing as he unbuttoned her trousers and yanked them down to her thighs. Her panties followed and she felt a surge of fear. His tension was clear through his movements. He was angrier than he had let on.
Without another word, he draped his right leg over her thighs to hold her steady, wrapping his left arm around her tiny waist. The assault began. She was screaming and begging within the first three strokes, unable to escape the heavy slaps that covered her bottom in a furious downpour. Before she could catch her breath, she felt the ruler land harshly across her sit spots and upper thighs. She had no idea how many times he applied it, but he was definitely intent on getting his point across. Sobbing painfully, she lost the ability to struggle and cried pathetically into the material covering his left calf.
He stopped, staring at the damage done. He was furious. He was always taught to never make decisions or take action when angry. He swallowed, realizing he was just shy of really hurting her. There were deep red welts and dark bruises from the ruler on top of the marks left by his fingers. No skin breakage, thank goodness, but he realized he would have to be careful if she ever pushed him to this again. He hoped she wouldn’t. He gently pulled her panties up, rubbing her back as she continued to cry. Slowly, he sat her up, fixing her trousers before pulling her against his broad chest.
Healing (General's Daughter Book 5) Page 11
