“Hello.” Jeanie smiled, happy to meet a free New Species despite it not seeming mutual. The pain in her side dampened her joy, though, when she forced her body upright. “Oh. That hurts.” She tenderly touched the gown over her injury, feeling a thick bandage under the thin material.
“Being shot causes pain.” The nurse stepped back. “Do you need assistance getting down?”
Jeanie pushed her legs over the edge of the bed only to notice how far her feet dangled above the floor. “These beds are pretty high.”
“They were designed for Species.” The nurse advanced, her touch gentle when she wrapped her arm around Jeanie’s waist, carefully helping her transition to a standing position.
Jeanie half expected dizziness to strike but she felt surprisingly good. The nurse released her after a few seconds, seemingly confident she wouldn’t fall.
“Follow me.”
“What’s your name?”
The woman growled. “I don’t want to make pleasantries with you.”
It stung but Jeanie tried not to allow it to hurt her feelings. After all, she’d worked at two places that had abused New Species. No matter the reason for her being there, some animosity might remain. That or the woman just didn’t like humans in general. She didn’t push for answers to figure out the exact cause.
The bathroom in the corner of the room was equipped with a sink, a shower stall and a toilet. She blushed while using the latter, knowing it was probably protocol for a nurse to remain present in case she fainted or needed help. The nurse turned on the water in the shower, bent and retrieved a set of clean gowns from a cabinet under the sink.
“You put one on with the opening in the back and one on with the opening in the front when you’re done, to keep you completely covered on both sides.” The woman paused. “No one enjoys their ass being exposed in those things once they are out of bed.”
“Thank you.” She wanted to say more but the stern look on the New Species’ face had her closing her mouth as she removed the thin gown after untying it in the back.
“I’ll stay in case you need help.” The woman clasped her hands together at her waist and leaned against the door.
Jeanie entered the open stall. The bandage covered a four-inch section just below her waist. A film of plastic covered the entire thing so she didn’t hesitate to step under the water. She closed her eyes, sighing in relief as warmth soaked her from the head down. Just being alive and able to shower seemed a gift.
710 crossed her mind as she stood there. She’d dreamed of seeing him again, trying to imagine what she’d say, or what he would, after he’d discovered the work she’d done to help get him and his people free. It was too much to ask for him to be outright friendly after what he’d suffered. She’d always be a reminder of those hellish times when he’d been beaten and chained.
Hope that he’d be there and want to talk to her again rose but she pushed it back. She might be at Homeland but that didn’t mean he lived there or that he’d purposely seek her out. He could live at Reservation. He’d made a huge impact on her life but she’d just been another employee to him. She stepped back, reaching for the shampoo on the shelf built into the wall of the shower.
“Scrub well,” the nurse encouraged.
Jeanie glanced at her. “I plan to.”
“You really stink.”
She winced, glancing away. The other woman’s sense of smell would be acute and New Species were known to be blunt. She hoped she hadn’t smelled really bad to 710 but being covered in blood wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Jeanie scrubbed her hair then washed the rest of her body with soap. They had stocked the bathroom with quality products, proof that they weren’t a standard hospital.
The warm water was missed when she shut it off and accepted towels from the woman who’d drawn closer. “Do I need a new bandage?”
“No. It looks like the plastic kept it dry. Just gently pat it with the towel.”
“Thank you. Do you know who will be at this meeting I’m going to?”
“I have no idea.” The nurse retreated to the door. “Two males wait in the hallway. You don’t want them growing impatient to get the answers they seek.”
Jeanie nodded, hurrying. Of course they want to talk to me. Some of the employees had to have escaped using the emergency exits. It’s imperative to track them down before they flee the country. She was just as eager to see some of them imprisoned. Jim Booth at Cornas hadn’t been as horrible as Dean Polanitis at Drackwood, but he was close. Both of those research facilities were partners with Mercile Industries and had to have gained access to the New Species through them before they’d been closed down.
The thin gowns didn’t do much to keep her warm but she was covered to mid-calf. “I don’t suppose I could wear scrubs?” She peered at the nurse with hope. “At least bottoms? I feel a bit indecent.”
“It will have to do.” The woman waved a hand down her body. “Most of them are in my size or larger. They wouldn’t fit. Follow me.”
“How about a pair of socks or even those paper footy things? My feet are cold.”
Jeanie translated the low growl as a no. She sighed, leaving the bathroom. Two big New Species wearing black uniforms greeted her inside the room by the door. It reminded her of 710 as she glanced at the white letters on their shirts. These ones didn’t wear vests. She studied their faces, disappointed that he wasn’t one of them. The primate was a handsome guy with unique brown eyes, the red hues in them fascinating. The slight reshaping of his flared nose and the bulkiness of his upper body gave her an indication he might have been mixed with gorilla DNA. She’d heard they existed but were rare. He was the first one of his kind she’d ever seen.
She glanced at the other one. He was feline with pretty catlike eyes and red-streaked hair. Neither one smiled at her, their expressions grim. Jeanie was disappointed they weren’t friendlier. The one with the reddish eyes offered his arm.
“I’m Jericho. You may hold on to me. Tell me if you experience any weakness.”
“We don’t want you hitting the floor. My name is Flame and I’m not a medic so I don’t want you injured on my watch.” He glanced at the nurse. “Are you coming with us, Midnight?”
“No.”
That caused the feline to frown. “What if she starts bleeding or something?”
“Bring her back here.” The female sailed out of the room.
Jeanie hesitated before curling her fingers around the offered muscular forearm. Jericho was really warm, causing her to shiver.
“I won’t harm you.” His voice was husky, a little scary and deep.
“It’s not that. I just took a shower and it’s chilly. I just didn’t realize how cold I was until I touched you.”
The New Species glanced at the other one. “Get her a blanket.”
Flame crossed the room and yanked open a cabinet. He shook out a fresh blanket and approached from behind her but paused. “What do I do with it? Wrap it around her and one of us carries her? You should do that. She appears frail.”
“Why me?” Jericho growled low. “You’re weaker than me and less inclined to accidentally crush something.”
“I am not.”
Jeanie released his arm and turned. “I can walk. May I have that?”
Flame handed over the blanket. She wrapped it around her like a shawl and took Jericho’s arm again. She fisted the material at her chest to keep the blanket closed in front so it didn’t slip off her shoulders. It helped a little but she still wished for real clothes. Her bare feet on the cool floor weren’t helping to warm her much.
“Thank you. I’m ready to go.”
Flame followed them. Jericho walked slowly at her side and she appreciated it. He towered over her with his much longer legs. The hallway was clear. They entered a large area with desks, a long counter, and she glimpsed buildings through the windows along one long wall. Curiosity about Homeland had her craning her neck to see more but they reached an elevator too soon to spot anything of interest.