Tina watched Alexis pale before snatching her hand away and hurrying from the table. Tina frowned in concern.

"Are you okay?" Tina asked, following Alexis.

"Stay away from me," Alexis panted, backing away as Mandy began to whimper, "I ... I shouldn't have come here."

"Alexis, wait," Tina called to a retreating form, "Alexis ..."

Tina stopped outside the kitchen doorway, but Alexis was gone. Gasping suddenly as her heart rate increased, her legs started shaking and not holding her erect anymore. Crumpling to the floor, Tina fought the anxiety rising within. She could hear her calling for help in her mind but couldn't get the words to fall from her lips. What was happening?

A looming figure entered her blurring vision, kneeling beside her. She heard her name being called, but all she longed for was Craig. The shaking increased, encompassing her entire body before darkness closed in, taking her away from reality and her ability to control any outcome.

Jenkins knelt next to the shaking form of an unconscious Tina. Scooping her up, he hurried toward the infirmary. Betty would track Craig and tell him where to find them; this was not a good sign. His concerns had risen when both of them had placed questions to him. Although coming from two different sources, they pointed in the same direction. Tina has been too concerned about Craig refusing any suggestion of a check-up wanting to stay available to him at all times. Now she was in this condition. Jenkins frowned, Jesse had mentioned Tina talking to herself, but could he be correct in his suspicions she conversed with her offspring?

The infirmary doors swished open. Looking around, Jenkins found Rose doing inventory. She was frowning when she turned toward him. Silently pointing to an empty bed. Gently laying Tina on the crisp covers, he stepped back as Rose moved toward her sister.

"Anything?" he asked.

Rose gently laid her hand against Tina's cheek, "It's not Tina. It's one of the offspring."

"What do you mean?" Jenkins asked, puzzled.

"They are using her body to ..." Rose gasped, "they are strong and further along than we thought."

"We need to do a check-up ... now," Jenkins moved toward the ultrasound equipment, watching her close her eyes as she continued to cup Tina's cheek.

"Yes," Rose nodded, "we need to find out what is happening. Bring the equipment."

The sound of the door opening brought a group of hurrying feet, one pair heavier than the rest.

"Rose, what is happening?" Craig asked.

"Jenkins, explain it to Craig," Rose said, taking the equipment from Jenkins and motioning for Iris, Daisy and Calla to join her around the bed, "I have all the help I need."

Jenkins watched the sisters work quietly around Tina before moving to the side of the room, waiting for Craig to join him.

"I found her shaking and unconscious just outside the kitchen," Jenkins said, "where were you?"

"Looking for Jesse," Craig muttered, frowning at the activity around the bed, "what are they doing?"

"Tina hasn't been for a check-up since we discovered she's pregnant," Jenkins said, "that is what they are doing. Rose told me the offspring are using their abilities through Tina. It's a possibility Tina's body cannot contain or is not prepared for their ability level. It could disable her normal functions ... perhaps until they are born."

The gathering around the bed parted. A screen above the bed displayed a face looking directly into the camera. The women parted slightly as it continued to stare past them in the direction of Craig.

"I'm guessing your attention is required," Calla murmured.

"By whom?" Craig asked, moving toward the bed and picking up Tina's limp hand, cupping it in his own, "Tina or the babies."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"It's moving away," Rose whispered, "giving the others room."

"Others?" Craig frowned, looking at the screen, "wow."

Jenkins watched Craig's awestruck incredulous face turn to wonder as he watched the babies settle to rest after Craig took Tina's hand. They had made it clear that Craig would be required closer to home for a while. This pregnancy seemed a little different to those he had been around before. Glancing back from the open infirmary door, he smiled as he watched Craig bend to place a kiss on Tina's forehead. It was time to update Michael and Breanna.

The expansive open lush green lawns spread before a blindly staring Jasmine as she faced the floor-to-ceiling windows. She had found some answers and reasons since doing the comprehensive search on the information Jesse and Valencia had discovered. The sun shone warmly through the clear glass over a beautiful world, yet she felt cold and distant. Emotionless yet hurting. Breathless from the astounding discoveries yet wondering what she had missed.

"Hey Jas," Pheonix called, "you going to stare out that window all day?"

Gasping in surprise, she whirled on the tall, muscular man striding toward her, "I ..." she inhaled, "I thought I was alone."

"You were," he nodded, "until I spoke to you three times and didn't get a response. I stayed, but you remained in your thoughts, so ... I decided perhaps raising my voice may be a good thing."

Jasmine frowned, "I'm..." shaking her head, "sorry, Phoenix, I was trying to process a few things."

Phoenix nodded, "My sister gets like that," he chuckled, "but only when it has to do with the family. Want to talk about whatever you're trying to process?"

"Ah ..." Jasmine sighed, "I don't think talking about it will make it any better ... or worse."

"You inherited your father's estate, didn't you?" Phoenix asked, his penetrating stare making Jasmine glance away.

"Yes, everything," Jasmine whispered, crossing her arms at her waist, "the good, the bad and the disturbing."

"That could explain why you've been preoccupied, missed meals, meetings, and ... well ... a lot of things."

"What are you talking about?" Jasmine said, "I've been helping as I always have."

"Did you know that the search parameters have been met, and the info is with Valencia and Jesse as we speak?" Phoenix asked. "No? What about the trip the teams took and the meeting after they returned? That would be last night."

"I wasn't involved with last night," Jasmine frowned, "how would I know there was a meeting or when the search was successful?"

"You would if you were around the others," Phoenix said, "what is going on?"

"It's to do with ..." Jasmine grimaced, "... its ...." she tried again before shaking her head, "thank you for letting me know I've been distant, Phoenix. I'll make sure I'm more of a team player."

"Jas," Phoenix whispered, moving closer, "I'm not judging ... just talk to me."

"Thank you for that; I'll be okay," Jasmine smiled tightly before walking past him toward the main stairs to the floor below.

Watching her go, Phoenix frowned. Something was going on, putting her off her game, grabbing all her attention and making her edgy. She needed to talk about it, if not with him, then with someone.

"Don't make me go dark, Jasmine," he muttered, "but you're pushing me into it."

"You ... going dark, big brother?" the words drew his attention to an alcove not far from where Jasmine had been standing.

"How long have you been there?" he asked, turning toward his approaching sibling.

"Oh ... nearly two hours," she smiled, "I've been watching Jasmine. You're correct, something is going on, and I'm determined to find out what it is."

Phoenix groaned, "Sis, Jasmine can be dangerous if you upset her too much."

"So can everyone else," she sighed, "you need to let me try and help where I can. I'm not superhuman like everyone else, and if Tina is anything to go by, she found where she could fit in this world. You're part of this world, and I want to fit in."

Phoenix stared hard at the young woman in front of him, "You're serious."

She nodded, "I am."

"But I don't want you in this world," he spoke gently, "I want you to have a normal life."

"Oh, that ship sailed the day I was kidnapped and held against my will while strapped to a chair," she said, propping her fisted hands on her hips. "Then I watch my only brother, whom I thought was dead, appear and fry my kidnapper against the wall. Not to be outdone, I watch that maniac's twin stand in front of me, shielding me with a .... force field while having a supernatural battle against the insane kidnapper."

Phoenix grimaced, "When you put it like that ..." he sighed, "okay, but please ... be careful."

He hugged her as she threw her hands around his neck, kissing him soundly on the cheek, "Always."

Moments later, he watched her disappear around the corner toward her suite. Another one to watch and worry over, shaking his head, he ambled toward Michael's office. The next few days were going to be intense; his gut churned with the message. Everything in him hummed with whatever was coming their way. If he knew the content of what was coming, perhaps he could prepare everyone, not just wait for the other shoe to drop. He paused with his hand on the doorknob frowning over a sudden thought ... could it be Jasmine's secret was something to do with whatever it was?

Turning the antique knob, he entered Michael's office as Jenkins stood to face the doorway. The look on both their faces pulled at the growing alarm in his gut.

"What? What is it?" Phoenix whispered.

"Come in, close the door, and we'll talk," Michael sighed, "we may need you after all."