Chapter 16

Felicity sat on the edge of the chair and watched Brent set up the stroller. She was tempted to ask how he knew how to just pull this and pop it open but realized now was not the time for that discussion.

Alec stood back and studied Jac. “Can you talk when you do this?” Jac gave her a puzzled look. “You know give us a play-by-play kind of thing? “

Jac sipped the horrid tea she had come to hate, but if it helped like the last time maybe it was worth it. “I’ve never really tried.” She smirked. “There’s never been anyone to listen before.” She glanced at Reid for a long moment then back to Alec. “I’ll give it a try, but it takes a lot of focus to not let the heaviness pull me down when I do this…”

“Good enough,” Alec said and leaned back against the dresser once more.

Felicity jumped up and grabbed her writing notebook. “I’ll try to write down anything you say, and we can sort it out later.”

“Thanks,” Jac said quietly. “Remember, no one touch me …” She trailed off and gave Reid a hard look. “Unless you need to.” He nodded and backed up one short step. Jac grinned and held her stomach. “I think I’m having a bit of stage fright.”

Brent sat on the bed and leaned on his knees. “Anytime you’re ready Jac, take your time.”

Nodding Jac. Taking a few deep breaths, she stepped to the front of the stroller. “Let’s start with baby first.” She looked at Alec. “What’s her name?” She said it softly and wasn’t sure if giving the infant a name would hurt her later.

“Amber.”

Jac nodded briefly and looked down at the stroller. “All right Amber, show me who has you, honey.”

Felicity took an unsteady breath, trying not to cry from knowing the baby’s name. She leaned towards Jac but kept her hand on the paper and her head down listening. Glancing up she watched Jac lean down and lightly run her hands inside the stroller, it was like she was searching for the strongest vibes. She watched her close her eyes and take a slow breath.

“Warm, happy feelings … contentment,” Jac whispered barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

Felicity wrote quickly and went to the next line. Afraid she was going to miss something Jac whispered she stood up and kneeled close to where the stroller was but made sure she was far enough away from Jac that she wouldn’t get in her way if she moved.

“Tension … feels startled…” Jac took a few calming breaths and pushed harder to make her body accept what she was feeling. “there’s a man … no baby, keep your eyes open for me …”

Felicity tried to ignore the panic in Jac’s voice and write. She was holding her breath, waiting for her next words.

“Blonde … no beard … he looks so serious … he’s uncovered her … she doesn’t like the cold feeling …” Jac panted and focused, she was not losing this vibration. Pushing aside the physical symptoms invading her, she squeezed her eyes tightly closed. “Looks like a Ken Barbie…”

Felicity heard Brent get up off the bed, glancing out of the corner of her eye she saw he only stood, making no steps towards Jac.

“It’s gone.”

Lifting her head, she looked up at Jac quickly. She was standing there taking slow breaths. She was about to get up when Jac whispered to Reid.

“I’m not finished.”

Dropping back to her knees she sat there and waited while Jac took slow steps to the handles on the stroller. When she hovered her hands over it and closed her eyes Felicity looked back to the notebook and listened.

Jac lowered her hands and touched the middle of the handle. She inhaled slowly through her nose and then breathed it back out slowly.

“Brent … mmm Alec …”

Felicity knew it wasn’t needed but still wrote it down.

“Inconsolable grief…” Jac slid her hands towards the outside of the handle slowly, trying to work beyond the upset parents.

“Apprehension … annoyance …” She moved her feet apart, so her stance was steadier, just in case she found darker feelings.

Alec and Reid were both standing closer now. Alec had her notebook and pen in hand, ready for the first solid thing she could dig her teeth into.

Jac focused harder, there had to be more. “He’s thinking … he’s tired of this … this wasn’t his part … just had to get to the … hill …”

Felicity wrote quickly, trying to keep up with Jac’s sporadic words. The ink started to fade; she shook the pen frantically. Just as she was about to bolt to her bag and find a new one, Brent’s hand appeared in front of her face holding a pen. She tossed the other one and took it.

“He’s anxious … what’s he looking at?” Jac dropped her head forward and clenched her teeth trying to bring it to her. “Red … not truck … he’s not happy he had to use his own …” Jac locked her knees when her legs started to feel shaky. “The door opened a woman jumped out and is looking around frantically … older woman fifty … sixty.” Jac dropped her head down onto her hands. “It’s gone.”

Reid was there before she could speak again scooping her up just as her legs started to give out.

“I’ve got you.” He whispered. Nodding over towards the table he looked at Alec as he walked to the couch. “Grab me that black case and thermos.”

Alec stuffed the notebook and pen into her back pocket and went over and grabbed them and stepped quickly to the couch. She looked down at Jac as Reid lowered her down gently. Her face was blanched, and sweat was rolling down the side of her face. She was panting and holding her stomach like it hurt like hell. “Wouldn’t dancing naked be easier?”

Jac grinned in between pants. “I wish.”

Shaking her head Alec stepped away and looked down at Felicity still kneeling on the floor. She walked over and reached a hand down to her; she looked as pale as Jac did. “This clairvoyance stuff is going to freak me right out later when it sinks in.”

Felicity reached up and took the offered hand. “I still freak out at times.” She stood up and then looked down at the notebook. She read everything and then quickly went over to the couch. Perching on the table she watched Jac for a minute and waited until Reid stopped trying to pour the tea into her mouth. “I know you feel like you’ve just been poured out of a blender Jac, but give me a description of the woman.” Reid scowled at her. She ignored him and continued. “Before you pass out on us.”

Jac pushed her hand against her eyes for a minute. “Short build, no glasses …” She took two slow breaths. “Short, straight dark hair … she was slightly hunched.” Accepting another small sip from the cup of the thermos Reid had hovering in front of her she leaned back and blew out another few breaths. “That’s what gave her age away, the hunching.”

Felicity wrote and nodded. “Anything to add about the ken Barbie?”

Jac frowned. “What did I say about him?” Her stomach was still swirling, and she hoped she wasn’t going to throw up. “Keep salts near.” She whispered knowing Reid probably had them in his other hand.

Felicity leaned a little closer and read from the notebook. “Blonde, no beard, looks serious, and looks like a Ken Barbie.”

Jac frowned through the ill waves washing over her. “Yeah, perfect hair. Just exactly like the doll. Not sure if it was real.”

Felicity wrote it down and then nodded. “Got it.” She looked at Jac for a minute she was getting paler. Leaning over she whispered to Reid. “You may want to take her into the bathroom, I know those feelings she’s having right now, and our nice dinner is about to be ruined for her.”

Reid looked down to see that Felicity was right. He gently scooped her up and quickly went towards the bathroom, thankful Brent pushed the stroller clear from his path as the woman in his arms started gasping.

Brent went over and sat on the couch where Felicity now sat. He reached over and looked over her shoulder at the notebook. Then motioned to Alec who still stood across the room looking somewhat shell-shocked. “Now we fit the pieces together.”

Alec nodded and sat down pulling out her own notebook. “So how many is that now?”

Felicity didn’t even have to ask how many what. She sighed. “The guy with the goatee and glasses, the doctor, Barbie Ken, and the older woman…” She let out a breath. “Sounds like the older woman I saw, and it makes me so happy to have someone else see something I saw.”

“Four,” Alec said bitterly as she wrote in her notebook. “It just pisses me off to no end.”

Felicity nodded. “I’m with you there.” She looked at Brent. “Any ideas on what she meant when he was thinking “just have to get to the hill”?”

Brent shook his head and frowned. “None.” He looked up at Alec. “Where was the parking lot? Any hills nearby?”

Alec scowled. “No. I went there myself and it’s level as far as the eye can see. I kept thinking how no one could else see and do something?”

Brent got up and wandered to the other side of the room. “There were none in the last place we were or here either…” He dropped his head and stood there with his hands on his hips thinking. His head popped up and he looked at Felicity. “Those other three possible locations, are any of them in towns with hills … at the base of a mountain?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Not that I recall and Jac and I checked out each one online, looking at the general areas.”

Brent swore inside his head. This wasn’t getting easier; it was getting more obscure as they went.

“Oh!” Felicity jumped up and ran over to the desk.

Alec jumped up behind her, having been startled half to death. She stood there and gave Brent an exasperated look. They both turned to watch Felicity typing quickly into the browser.

“Oh, which one, which one…” She mumbled in a hushed voice. “There was a sign…” She brought up the first place they planned on stopping in the morning. “No.” Clicking to open the next one, she felt Brent move to stand on one side of her and Alec on the other. “There!” She pointed to the screen.

Brent leaned down and squinted at the picture she’d opened. It was one of the motels they were going to check out and the sign in front of it said, “Stop and enjoy the hospitality of the motel on the hill.” He grinned. “Son of a bitch, we got them.”

Reid came out with Jac cradled in his arms and went over to her bed. “Got what?” He lowered her gently and pulled the blanket to cover her. “She fell asleep after she threw up.” He pulled the garbage can closer to the bed then turned and gave the other three an inquisitive look.

Brent pointed to the picture on the laptop. “Stop and enjoy the hospitality of the motel on the hill.”

Reid came over quickly and looked at the screen. He gave Brent a vindictive grin. “Where is it?”

Felicity leaned back against the desk. “It was our second stop for tomorrow.”

Reid turned quickly and looked at Jac for a moment. “As soon as she’s had some rest, we’ll make her a bed in the car and go.”

Alec glanced down at her watch. “Shit.” She looked at the stroller and went over to it. “I’m not going to be able to stick around. I’ve got court in the morning.” She flipped the lock on the stroller and pushed it together before looking at them. “You let me know as soon as you get there—regardless of the time.”

Brent nodded. “We’ll take a look around and let you know if we have anything for your guy and his team to grab a hold of.”

She nodded and then looked over at Jac. “Is she going to be okay?”

Reid sighed. “Yeah, she’s been worse.” Alec raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t say anything.

Nodding to Felicity and Brent she lifted the stroller and went to the door. “I’m just a call away if you find anything or need more help.”

“Thanks, Alec,” Brent said as he turned and studied the picture on the screen again.

He looked at Felicity, who was reading over the notes again. Turning, he watched Reid sit on the bed beside Jac. “I vote we get as much back in the cars now and try to grab a quick nap while Jac rests.”

Felicity set the notebook down. “I’ll get everything here packed up.” She looked at Reid. “I’ll watch her Reid. You go get the car and everything organized.”

Reid brushed the hair back from Jacinda’s face, then nodded. “Thanks.” Getting up he headed towards the door. “Let me know when she’s semi-coherent, she’ll want to know everything.” He quickly went out the door.

Brent turned and walked over to Felicity. He smiled down at her. “We’re getting so close I can taste it now.”

“I know.” She smiled up at him and patted his chest lightly. “Go do your planning and strategizing while I get everything here organized.”

He smiled down at her for a second. Lowering his head, he gave her a soft lingering kiss. Straightening he turned towards the door. “Try to stretch out if there’s time after you’re finished. If I know Reid, he’s tossing everything in the trunk right now and will sneak back in here shortly.”

“I’ll try.” Felicity stood and watched him go out the door. She let out a long breath and closed her eyes. We’re closer Damian; you and little Amber hang on a bit longer. She held her hands against her chest for a minute and just stood like that relaxing the muscles in her neck and shoulders. Opening her eyes, she looked around the room. Maybe she would try to lie down after she got everything packed up. She made a silent note to herself to leave a few things out for Jac so she could freshen up a bit before the hour-and-a-half car ride in the middle of the night.

She shuddered remembering the times she’d woke up alone after more or less passing out, alone. Glancing at the woman sleeping soundly she smiled. Neither of them was alone in this now, and that made up for all those aching moments.

Jac didn’t wake up for close to three hours. Brent had managed to sleep for an hour as did Felicity. Reid had stretched out on the bed beside Jac, but Felicity doubted he’d really rested much. Jac was grateful for a quick shower and the food when she was finished. She wasn’t as happy about having a hot, fresh thermos of tea shoved into her hand as Reid carried the rest of her things out to the car.

The car ride was long. Wanting to be there quickly made it seem twice as long as it was and Felicity had to bite her tongue several times so she wouldn’t ask if they were almost there. Considering she was the one holding the map and navigating so Reid could follow behind them with ease and keep an eye on Jac at the same time, it would have been silly to ask Brent how close they were.

When they stopped the second time so Jac could use the bathroom, Felicity got out to stretch her legs. She’d been on the road so much in her life and traveled more than anyone she’d ever come across. Looking around the small gas station, she grinned, remembering more than her share of stops to similar places while waiting for the next bus. No more, she decided. When they got back home, she was staying. Maybe not in the tiny temporary little place she’d gotten on purpose, so she couldn’t get too attached to it, but she was staying in that town. And, she thought with a hopeful hitch in her breath, hopefully with these people still in her life.

Not recalling what time they reached the motel, she was ushered into a room with Jac and both of them were instructed to sleep the last hour or so until dawn. There was nothing that could be done with a part-time clerk watching the office and no other staff here until it was light out. Felicity didn’t even bother to change, just fell onto the bed and flipped the far side of the cover over herself. Please let this be over tomorrow was the last thought she had.