…..CHAPTER 33…..
The trip back to Denver with Jesse, Melinda, and Randall was filled with interesting discussions.
“I can’t believe that crystal was even there!” Melinda muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. “To think, right in the middle of a military base! Someone’s gonna get it.”
Gwen winced. Yeah. Whoever had missed and/or allowed that witch crystal in was going to be in huge trouble. The CM base was not just one of the largest in the nation, it was one of the most important. It hadn’t always been. It had once upon a time been the location of retreat for the President and staff, in emergencies. No longer. Now it was the location of experiments, crystal and otherwise, and a large number of military witches and their training grounds, as well as a hub for crystal prep and distribution. No one knew just how big the place was now, except the military.
“You did a great job, Gwen!” Melinda said, giving her a shoulder-check where they sat next to each other in the backseat.
“Thank you,” she said, going red.
“Oliver is a natural designer, and wow…that was one hell-of-a spell he had to dismantle.”
“We didn’t see much up in the room,” Randall said, turning in his seat to look back at them.
Jesse’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Still pisses me off,” he muttered.
“Why?” Gwen asked.
Jesse shook his head.
Randall grinned. “He almost got tossed out of the base because he wanted to be in the same room with you and nearly started a fight. Oscar was the only reason he didn’t.”
Gwen’s already warm face went hot. “I’m okay. Oliver knew what he was doing. I was safe. In fact, I’ve never seen someone do anything like that.”
Melinda gave a soft laugh. “Stick around Oliver long enough and you’ll see plenty of shit like that. Like I said. He’s a natural. I’m wondering what’ll happen now.”
“Now?” Randall asked, and his face went dark with anger. “Now they’ll investigate, and yeah, someone’s gonna be in deep shit.”
“Who would’ve done this?” Gwen asked, dismayed. Why?
“Someone who wants something. Probably another country.”
“What do they want?”
Randall shrugged. “Could be anything. Could be trying to make a statement about our monopoly, though most of the world doesn’t even know our grid is powered by witches and crystals. We’ve kept it secret for a long time, and what society and the world-at-large knows is pure hearsay and rumor. But certain governments know. It could be someone trying to blow up our grid. Could even be someone pissed off at our government from the inside, like a Wild One.”
Gwen shivered a bit. Wild Ones were unregistered and free, but there was a difference between those two distinctions. Wild Ones were operatives of the Fray, an illegal organization bent on chaos and destruction of the law, on freeing witches to join them in taking down the government. Some free witches weren’t necessarily Wild Ones, were just trying hard to live their lives.
Gwen swallowed hard as memory sharply asserted itself. That unregistered witch… Was he a Wild One?
“Gwen?” Jesse’s voice penetrated her thoughts, his tone indicating he’d already called her name at least once. Turning her face to his, she realized that they were parked outside the Bureau. How did they get here so fast?
“You must be dozing in your seat,” Melinda said, voice amused but kind. “Come on sweetie. Let’s get you home.”
Gwen blushed a little.
They’d all arrived at the same time, it looked like. Steven, his Handler Edith, Sarah and her Handler Brandy exited one car, while Oscar and Oliver approached them, Oliver looking completely wiped out. Another car was spilling Isla, Val, and their Handlers.
“Meet us all in the lobby,” Oscar ordered, then he turned with Oliver, steadying his witch with a hand between his shoulders as his witch swayed.
Awwww…
When they’d gathered, Oscar pointed to the Handlers. “Get your witches to their beds, but not before plying them with water and a small snack. They’re all excused for tomorrow morning. Don’t bother reporting for work till noon. Your task is to care for your witches. I’ve seen this kind of burn out before. Especially you Steven. Oliver told me you bore the brunt of this.”
Steven shrugged. Gwen was starting to recognize his attitude. He was the kind of man that showed a brusque face to the world, but was really sort of nice once you knew him.
Oscar looked pointedly at the old woman. Edith grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll make him rest.”
“Good. Steven has the whole day off tomorrow.”
Steven scowled. “What? But…”
Oliver snorted. “Shut it, Steven. I can see your body reacting as we speak. You’re going to need rest, dude.”
Steven hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Puzzled, Gwen took a look at Steven’s bodily balances and saw instantly what Oliver was talking about. “Oooo…” she cringed.
Beside her, Val gave a little nod of sympathy. “Get some rest, Steven.”
“Inside. Oliver, you staying tonight?”
“Yeah. I want to watch over everyone.”
Oscar nodded, unsurprised it seemed. “As long as you’re resting, too. Alright, everyone inside. Handler’s, show your witches some love and then put them to bed.”
Randall snickered, Oliver looked amused, and Val burst out laughing. Gwen felt like she’d missed something as Jesse led her away, shaking his head and mouth twitching with humor.
They were only a few feet from the entrance when Gwen realized the lobby was full. In the middle of the night.
Jesse opened the door for her and she stepped in.
Every witch in the House was there, she was sure, and a large number of their Handlers, too. Crowded into chairs and on the couches, some sat on the floor, a few leaned on the wall. One or two were laying down on the floor, nudged awake by someone close as they watched them enter.
Gwen stared at them. What was going on?
Oscar and Oliver were next through the door, and she heard Oliver’s amused tone. “Should’ve seen this coming,” he murmured.
“Attention, witches,” Oscar called.
They all jerked up to their feet.
“What’re you doing here?”
A witch named Graham waved his hand hello. “Something was happening. We wanted to be ready to help.”
Gwen realized they were watching those who’d arrived from the Springs with wide eyes, probably searching them for injuries.
“Everything is fine. Thank you all. I appreciate your readiness to help. You did good. They took care of the problem, and nobody was hurt. They’re all wiped out, though, so why don’t you help get them to their apartments?”
Gwen heard Oliver’s chuckle. “Way to enforce it, Oscar.”
“That goes for you, too, Oliver,” Oscar said severely, no longer joking.
Several of the witches laughed at Oliver’s sour look, which he didn’t bother hiding from Oscar.
Gwen smiled.
Witches came forward then, leading them away, questions whispered and answered, lots of wide-eyed shock, several looking very worried. She saw two witches actually hug, heads together in whispered conversation.
“Fraternization,” she whispered.
Jesse snorted. “You worry too much about that.”
Phoebe came forward, glancing at Oliver before taking Gwen’s hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just tired.”
“Need help?”
“No, I didn’t do much. Really, I’m fine.”
Jesse stirred next to her, taking her hand away from Phoebe. “Let’s get you home,” he muttered and led her to the elevator. They were the first ones up to the House. He followed her into her apartment, pointing at the kitchen with a severe expression on his face. “Water. And a snack. Director’s orders.”
Gwen located a granola bar, filled a glass with water and squirted some lemon juice into it. Under her Handler’s watchful gaze, she ate and drank dutifully when she really just wanted to fall into bed. She was so tired…and she really hadn’t done much. Granted, it was very late, but still.
When she was done, she cleaned up and turned toward Jesse. “Done, sir.”
For once, he didn’t correct her, because she was following orders. She’d noticed that about those here in Denver. Witches were casual with their Handlers unless it involved duty. She had yet to notice a witch goofing off or being casual during any sort of work.
Gwen left the kitchen and Jesse rose from the stool at the bar, stepping close. “Feel better?”
“Yes. I feel a lot better, but I am sleepy.”
Jesse nodded, his gaze expressionless for a long moment. When he spoke, he voice was soft. “I read your report of the night Phoebe was found. I’ve been thinking about it, a little worried.”
Gwen swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. “Yes, sir?”
“You spoke with a young man there. Did he have any information?”
The warmth on her face told her she’d blushed, and probably given away her guilt. “He…” she started, but it came out a croak. “He wanted to know who went inside.”
“You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“Not really. He said he knew Oliver. I told him that the other was his Handler.”
Jesse looked away, eyes thoughtful. “He knew Oliver, huh?”
“That’s what he said,” she whispered.
Jesse looked back at her and smiled. It was a warm, comforting smile. “Don’t worry. Why don’t you head to bed now. You did very good tonight, Gwen.”
“Thank you, Jesse.”
“Oliver is a powerful and talented witch, don’t you think?”
“Yes, sir. Very. I’m learning so much from him.”
“He’s a good teacher. Watch Oliver. Keep learning. Learn as much as you can.”
She looked up at him, puzzled by something in his voice. Jesse smiled warmly again. The smile reached his eyes, crinkling the corners. One hand lifted to swipe a lock of her dark hair from her face. “How are you feeling? You must be very tired. I got the impression that that was a difficult working.”
Gwen shook her head. “Not for me, really. Steven and Oliver bore the brunt of the work.”
Jesse hummed softly and put his hands on her shoulders. “I know you weren’t serving that particular function tonight, Gwen, but Omega isn’t something to sniff at. Your work is invaluable, necessary, and wanted. And I know you were active in the working. I saw it. Good job, Gwen.”
“Thank you.” Gwen shivered under Jesse’s hands.
“Cold?” he whispered.
She shook her head. “No.”
“What’s wrong?”
She couldn’t look at him.
One hand left her shoulder but lifted her chin, and she closed her eyes, afraid of what she’d see in his eyes. Or worse. What he’d see in hers.
She didn’t want to risk his anger, didn’t want to risk him returning her to the pool of available witches, a mark against her, a witch unwanted.
Oh god. He’d discovered her mistake!
She didn’t want him to tell anyone about her mistake. It was an honest mistake, one anyone might make. Right?
She flinched when she felt his warm breath against her face, her eyes flying open. When his mouth closed on hers, touched her lips, her heartbeat roared in her ears. Black dots flicked at the edges of her vision, so she closed her eyes again. Soft little pecks of his lips… His chin nudged hers, gently prying her lips open, a soft rasp of his tongue against her mouth.
Gwen sucked in a shocked breath. She was shaking so hard, that when he drew away, he had to hold her up, pressing her to him. One hand held the back of her head, pressing her face to the front of his shoulder, the other wrapped around her waist.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, hot breath in her ear.
She nodded, even though it wasn’t true. Jesse chuckled and let her go.
She couldn’t meet his gaze, her mind undone with the taboo, fear of punishment for her mistake, and the feelings and the way her body shimmered inside…
“Now that’s what fraternization looks like,” he said, voice low and soft. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then turned and left her apartment, the door closing softly behind him.
Gwen whirled and leaped into her bedroom, diving for it like a lifeline.
Shaking, she tried to understand what had just happened.
It was forbidden! Jesse…broke the law! Oh, heavens…her own Handler had fraternized with her.
How was she to deal with this? If she filed a complaint, Jesse would send her back. She’d be lucky to find such a wonderful position again. She’d be lucky to find a Handler who was kind. And Jesse was kind. He was encouraging, he wasn’t demanding, he took care of her, and he kept her busy with real work, not simple stuff like filing or cleaning or errands. Yes, she did those things, but they were interspersed with real work. Researching bad guys, searching for clues, following stories, she’d even gone with him on a stake-out.
She didn’t want to go back to the pool.
Could she say something to Jesse if he tried to kiss her again?
If she said something, what would he do?
More importantly, what would she do? Well, that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? She had to decide how to carry forward if Jesse carried forward, too. If he tried to fraternize again…she would have to tell him no. It was wrong.
She couldn’t do it.
But she must.
Gwen squeezed her eyes closed, conflicted and scared. She wished Phoebe was here. She could talk to her, surely? She wasn’t an FBW&R witch. Yet. She probably would be someday. She was too powerful to be put into the public pool. She had no family to adopt her. So yeah, the FBW&R would probably snap her right up. Who would pick her?
Gwen relaxed slowly and breathed a sigh of relief.
Yeah. She’d talk to Phoebe. Phoebe was smart, nice, even newer to the House than Gwen was.
Phoebe could tell her what to do.