Beth and Eliot looked at the image before them. They made sure to get all pictures possible and then looked at the time. Everyone would be back in less than 4 minutes. Quickly Beth made one last measurement. As she reset the scope, Eliot removed the samples and replaced them with the ones that were there. The two of them were walking out of the lab as the rest of the night shift was walking back in. One of the techs talked briefly to Beth, curious to see her here so late at night and even more so with this strange man he hadn’t seen before? Beth and Eliot went back to her office. They put the disc into Beth’s computer and brought up the images. What they both saw was that the hybrid ovum was unique. Instead of one cell wall it had two. It was strange how the transformation made the males weaker and the females stronger in that respect. By injecting the sperm into the ovum as you normally would they would still have the thinner, inner wall to get through. Although it wasn’t as strong as the primary wall, it still obviously proved too much for the weakened sperm. Could it possibly be this simple? If only Eliot had access to equipment such as this many years ago. He could have possibly solved the whole problem then. If only a scope like this was available when Katarina was alive. Maybe they would have never been at the cabin when she was killed. They both knew the next step. They needed to see if this was actually the answer. There was only one way to find out.
As they prepared to leave Eliot told Beth he would have an answer for her soon. He would wait until morning to call Mike and let him know. It was late and although he was terribly excited about the news he would wait until the morning. Not knowing everything else that was going on, Mike could have used some good news. Eliot pulled Beth close to him and kissed her, slow at first and then harder. His hands slid around her back and as they broke the kiss he looked at Beth and smiled, “Thank you so very much! I couldn’t have done this without your help.” Beth smiled as well. She hadn’t had feelings like this in sometime. She actually thought she felt Eliot getting hard as they kissed and was somewhat aroused herself by his kiss and his arms around her. She told Eliot that it was nothing and that if he had the same equipment he would have found it himself … eventually, as she winked at him. He asked her if she wanted a drink to celebrate the discovery. She said she didn’t think there was any place open at the late hour. Eliot offered if she wanted to come over to his house for a drink then, Beth agreed. As they drove out of the lot Justin took note of the time and how the two seemed to be together although in different cars. He knew there was something up and couldn’t wait to see Chuck Carson in the morning.
Mike and Paul arrived at Mike’s house with Jessica right behind them. He pulled the van into garage and closed the door. The entire pack was there and Jean had told them all she knew. They opened the rear door and carried Anne inside and down the stairs to the spare bedroom. Mike checked her wound, cleaned it and replaced the bandage. They all went to the living area and he explained everything that had happened in detail along with Jessica. Ray and Jake leered at Jessica as the story unfolded before them. Mike glared back at them and the two scowled and then sat back. They knew not to challenge him but were going to push the boundaries; they had just pushed too far. Mike went over with everyone what they all were to do. Jessica was going have to take a couple of days off, as well as Paul. Everyone else was to work as normal. Jessica would also have to call Ann’s work as well and let them know she was in an accident and would be out for the remainder of the week. He told her to be as vague as possible but also told her the direction to take if they pressed for more information. As soon as Anne was awake they would find out when they should tell her ex and her mom what was up with her absence. Mike wanted Jessica there when she woke up so she saw a face she knew. Not a group of strangers in a strange place.
A Day In the Woods – Chapter 9
Eliot pulled into his driveway with Beth shortly behind him. The two of them got out of their cars. As Eliot walked to the doorstep Beth stood and stared at the small secluded house. She had always expected Eliot Crane to be in something a little grander, something more like her own house. She then realized all that Eliot had sacrificed for his love of Katarina and also for his friends. He had poured his life into this one thing; she admired him for his devotion to this one problem and his resolve to find a cure for it. As Eliot slid the key into his door he turned and looked at Beth, “Haven’t changed your mind now have you?” Beth smiled as she shook her head no. Eliot opened the door and they walked inside. The house was modestly furnished and clean; this was the Eliot that Beth knew. She looked around a bit as Eliot closed the door and went to make a couple of drinks. Photos on the wall spanned his life and career; there were even a couple of the two of them from when they were in college together.
Eliot came back with the drinks in hand. He handed one to Beth, “Here’s to what I hope is an end to my search.” The glasses met and the two of them drank. They sat together on the sofa and Beth started to talk of the next step, of what they should try next. Eliot put his finger to her lips and stopped her in mid sentence. “As much as I am looking forward to this, I want to spend this moment with just you.” Beth stopped trying to talk and blushed. She actually felt warm all over and it wasn’t the drink. She opened her mouth slightly and as Eliot’s finger pressed a little farther in Beth sucked it in completely. He withdrew his finger and smiled as he looked at the sly look on Beth’s face. He leaned forward and kissed her lips, not slowly but passionately, pressing his lips hard against hers as he put his hands on her waist and pulled her towards him.
Beth moved closer as they kissed, her hands on Eliot’s chest pulling at the buttons. Eliot pulled Beth’s blouse from her skirt, sliding his hands under it and pushing it up over head. Beth had Eliot’s shirt off and tossed it with hers. They kissed and their hands explored. Eliot unhooked Beth’s bra and his hands found their way to her soft breasts. As he rubbed them her nipples became erect and Eliot pinched at them. Beth moaned and she worked at opening Eliot’s pants. Eliot kissed his way down from Beth’s lips, over to her ears and down her neck, sliding into the floor as he sucked her hard nipples into his mouth. Beth’s hands were in his hair as Eliot unzipped her skirt. She lifted her ass slightly and he slid it down over her legs and dropped it to the floor. Eliot kissed his way up Beth’s legs encased in a pair of thigh high hose. He reached bare skin and his breath was making her moist. He licked at the crotch of her panties making them even wetter. Beth wrapped her fingers in his hair and pulled his head up slightly. Looking between her breasts into Eliot’s dark eyes, she asked if there was someplace else they could continue this. As Eliot stood his erection was more than obvious. Beth finished taking off his pants and they slid to the floor. Eliot took Beth’s hand and pulled her from the sofa. They kissed as he led her to his bedroom.