Chapter 17
Jen glanced at Jacque but couldn’t offer her friend more than that. It was too hard to see her hurting like that. After all of the times they each had been in danger, after all of their close calls and by the skin of their teeth moments, Jen was gun shy. She knew that the females of their species frequently lost children—if they were able to conceive at all. But with a healer in the pack it was supposed to be less common. She had to bite her tongue to keep from snarling at Rachel and asking her why in the hell her friend was in such a situation now.
“Okay, so we get her the medicine,” Jen stated matter-of-fact like. Why were they all just standing here staring at her? Why hadn’t someone already gotten their asses in gear and done something? Maybe it was because she nearly lost her own child, or maybe it was because she was a mom now and she fully understood just how protective mothers were of their babies. Whatever the reason, the thought of Jacque losing her baby was beyond Jen’s comprehension. It just wasn’t an option, sort of like Dec being feminine or Vasile wearing a leotard; it just wasn’t going to happen, not on her watch.
“Just going and getting human medicine isn’t as easy as it once was,” Rachel told her gently.
Jen felt her heart stutter. She hadn’t forgotten what Cynthia had done for them, how could she? Her and Dec’s child was named after the doctor, but she hadn’t thought about the fact that Cynthia had been their only link to the human medical community.
“Dammit!” Jen slammed her hand down on the desk next to her. She heard Fane’s growl and Decebel’s answering snarl but she ignored the posturing males. They could suck it for all she cared. Her best friend was in labor; her other best friend was off goodness knows where doing whatever dirty work Peri— Jen froze as the fae’s name popped into her mind. Her head whipped around to look at Vasile.
“We need a fae.” She was pretty sure she looked half crazed as she stared down the Alpha, but she didn’t give a damn. This was her best friend and her baby. She’d do a lot more than stare the Alpha of all Alphas in the eyes if she had to.
“I’ve had a little contact with Peri,” Vasile admitted, “but not much, and from what I understand, the situation they are in is quite precarious.”
Jen propped her hands on her hips and tried hard not to growl. She failed miserably. “I don’t give a flying piece of horse poo what their situation is. Jacque needs help and Peri is the fae who can help her.”
“And Peri is who will come.” Alina’s voice filled the room as she stepped passed a frowning Decebel.
The words had barely left Alina’s mouth when the room filled with a bright light and then darkness. All of the males tensed and growls filled the darkness.
“It’s good to know that nothing changes while I’m gone.” Peri’s voice cut through the darkness and then the light was back. The high fae stood next to the bed where Jacque lay. “You males still have no sense of humor and you females can’t seem to keep your asses out of the frying pan. Alina,”―Peri bowed slightly to her―“you rang?”
“Jacque needs human medicine to keep from going into labor and popping out a furless pup and you need to get it for her,” Jen said before Alina could respond. Her arms were now crossed in front of her chest as she stared down the fae.
“Well, hello to you too, Jennifer. No, no, I’m fine, please don’t worry about me. And oh, Sally is doing great too. We’re just having a good old time dealing with the mess Lorrelle got us into before her much too easy death.”
Jen made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “I don’t have time for your sister issues. You are standing on your own two feet and Costin hasn’t called in the cavalry which tells me you and Sally are hanging in there. She,” Jen said and motioned toward Jacque, “on the other hand, is not doing quite as well. Could we please focus on that?”
A small smile touched Peri’s tight lips. “Jen, you are still just as lovely as ever. Like sitting bare assed on a cactus, you bring such joy to my life.”
“Yeah and I’ve missed you like I miss my last yeast infection,” Jen retorted.
“Like I said, it’s good some things do not change. Fine, Rachel,” the fae looked at the healer. “What do you need?”
Rachel’s eyes were wide as she looked between Jen and Peri. “I’m not sure the name of the medicine,” she said carefully, obviously worried that Jen was going to fly off the handle. “It’s a drug they use to stop the contractions of labor.”
“Good enough, I’m sure I can coerce some doctor to share his or her knowledge with me if you will―” Her words froze as Jen moved quickly across the room until her hand was clenched tightly around Peri’s wrist. “Um,”―Peri looked at Jen as though she were a slimy bug―“what are you doing?”
“You think you’re going without me? Uh, no. Besides you might need my help persuading the information out of someone.”
“Or you could just look the information up on the internet,” Decebel spoke up as he stepped into the room ignoring Fane’s growl. “She doesn’t need you to tag along, Jennifer.”
Jen’s eyes narrowed. “B, this is not the time. I’m going to help get Jacque what she needs. Deal with it.”
“Like I said, it’s good some things never change,” Peri smiled.
“Good times, right?” Jen added.
“Sally and Costin don’t have quite the entertainment value that you two do.”
“Your own fault for not inviting me,” Jen pointed out.
“True enough,” Peri sighed. “But I’m here now and, as always, you have not disappointed, Jen.”
“I think if we continue to sit here and talk like Dec isn’t in the room seething over my lack of submission his head my pop off his neck.”
Peri’s faced scrunched together. “That would just be messy.”
“Then, perhaps, you should―you know―” Jen made a popping motion with her hand as she said, “poof us out of her.”
“I don’t go poof,” Peri said indignantly.
“Maybe you should; it could be more impressive then the bright lights.”
Peri shrugged. “Fine, we’ll poof.”
Jen saw the minute Decebel realized what the pair was saying when his eyes widened and he started toward her. He was too late. She and Peri were already flashing from the room.
Jen caught her balance as she opened her eyes and saw that Peri had brought them to a hospital. She had no clue which hospital, but there was no doubt that’s what it was as people in white coats walked quickly through the halls and scrub clad nurses rushed about with arms full of charts.
“I’m looking for the hospital pharmacy?” Peri’s voice drew Jen’s attention. She turned to see the high fae talking to one of the nurses in blue scrubs. “Yes, I’ve only been working here a few days and I get turned around so easily.”
Jen wanted to roll her eyes. Peri was using some sort of magic over the women who was smiling back at the fae as though Peri had just shot her up with the really good pain medicine. The woman answered Peri and gave her some vague directions and then hurried on her way.
“You work here?” Jen smirked. “You have about as much right being a caregiver as I do being—”
“A stay at home stripper mom?” Peri interrupted.
Jen pursed her lips. “Ha, ha. My stripping days are over.”
Peri motioned for her to follow. “Uh-hu and so if Katie Peri’s E.T. suddenly started playing, you wouldn’t have the sudden urge to de-robe?”
“Urge, yes,” Jen admitted. “I mean, come on, the song has a sick beat. Who wouldn’t have the urge when it plays?”
Peri nodded. “Good point.”
They rounded several corners and took two stairwells before finally coming to a brown metal door with the word Pharmacy painted on it in white block letters. Next to it was a black square on the wall that required the scanning of a badge for entry. Peri held her hand out in front of the black square and the door made a clicking sound. The fae smiled. “Don’t mind if we do,” she said as she pulled the door opened and motioned Jen inside.
A short, balding man stood on the other side of a long counter. He had a round, kind face with deep set eyes and a small nose. His glasses sat perched on the edge of his nose and Jen wondered how they didn’t just slip right off.
As the door shut behind them, the man’s eyes looked up at them over the rim of his glasses. They widened slightly but then his surprise was replaced with what she was sure was practiced professionalism. “How can I help you ladies? Forgive me if I don’t know your names. I’m rather new,” he said blushing endearingly.
“Don’t feel bad,” Peri said good-naturedly. “We’re both new too. In fact, so new that we left the chart for the patient up stairs.” Peri glanced at Jen. “Do you remember the name of the drug that doctor,” Peri said and glanced over Jen’s shoulder, “um, Dr. Vagisile was requesting.”
Jen choked back the laugh that nearly burst out at the name Peri had come up with. Jen’s eyes narrowed. “Dr. Vagisile, the OB doctor, wanted something to help stop Ms. Cli Tauris’ contractions.”
Peri’s eyes widened at Jen’s words but Jen just turned and smiled at the pharmacist, whose face had turned a bright shade of red. Wrapped in his white lab coat, he reminded Jen of a tampon, which was just all kinds of wrong. She blamed Peri and her stupid vagsile name for that.
“Yes,” Peri finally choked out. “Yes, the drug to stop Ms. Tauris’ contractions.”
“Oh, um, that would be, yes.” The pudgy man stumbled about as he messed with something behind the counter. “The doctor is wanting…”
“He seemed to be quite in a hurry to stop them.” Jen leaned forward and batted her eyes at the flustered man. “Dr. V said she was just too early to be going into labor. So we of course hurried down here to get him what he wanted as quickly as we could. Ms. Tauris looked to be in all kinds of pain with the writhing and screaming.”
“Well, if you were pushing a watermelon out of your parts, you’d be writhing and screaming too,” Peri pointed out. “I’ve heard that for a man it’s comparable to them passing a kidney stone through their—”
“Terbutaline,” the pharmacist blurted out. “He’s wanting Terbutaline.” He scurried off, his face growing redder by the second.
“I think we made him uncomfortable,” Jen said as she watched him hurry to the back.
Peri shook her head. “No, we were perfectly pleasant. He probably just has to pee. We don’t make people uncomfortable.”
Jen laughed. “Right, and men love it when you talk about them squeezing stones through their man parts.”
The high fae shrugged. “I don’t see what the big deal is. We females have to squeeze small beings through our parts and nobody cringes or refrains from talking about it. Like we enjoy thinking about popping a watermelon through our who-hahs.”
Jen laughed as the pudgy pharmacists came hurrying back. She patted Peri’s shoulder. “Never thought I’d say this. In fact I was pretty sure I’d eat my own boob before I ever said this, but I’ve missed you.”
Peri glanced over at Jen with a wry smile. “Awe, Jennifer, I don’t get choked up often but when I’m chosen over someone eating their own boob, well, it gets me right here.” She patted the place over her heart. “As much as I’m enjoying our bonding, I believe we have a patient waiting on us.” She snatched the bag from the still beat-red man and took Jen’s hand. They flashed right in front of the man and, based on his gasp, Peri hadn’t bothered to shield him from their sudden disappearance.
When they reappeared in Fane and Jacque’s room, Peri tossed the bag to Rachel but didn’t give Jen time to say anything before she grabbed her again and flashed her from the room.
“What the―” Jen huffed as they appeared out in the hall and several feet away from Jacque’s door. Jen’s eyes widened as she saw her mate come storming out down the hall. “You know I’m about to get chewed on like his favorite squeaky toy, right?”
Peri didn’t look the least bit concerned. “I might care if I didn’t know that you thoroughly enjoy a good chewing.”
“Jennifer,” Decebel growled but was cut off by Peri.
“Save it, Alpha.” Peri held up a hand and froze Decebel in midstride. “You can flap your disgruntled jaws once I’m gone. I need information.” She looked back at Jen. “Has there been anything unusual happening here?”
Jen frowned. “Be a little clearer, Peri fairy. Unusual for us is sort of a staple.”
“No menacing looking freaks coming around to make threats or stir mischief? No visits from the pixie king? No Great Luna bringing warnings of the end of the world?”
“Wow, sounds like you guys really are making some friends,” Jen said dryly. “No, nothing like that. Jacque got herself into some trouble but it didn’t have anything to do with any of that.”
“Good,” Peri nodded. “She made a motion with her hand that released Decebel. “Please try to stay out of trouble while we are attempting to bring order to the rest of the supernatural world. I don’t have time to be poofing about rescuing your ass.” And then she was gone.
“Well, she’s still her usual pleasant self,” Jen grumbled as she met the frustrated glare of her mate.
“Do you want to check on Jacque?” Decebel asked her in the voice that said what he really wanted to say wasn’t nearly as cordial.
“You mean before you take me home and punish me for my insolence?”
“You said it, not me.”
“You were thinking it.”
“Touche´.”