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I walked back to my home, slowly, wondering what just happened.

"Jason," Dr Stevenson's voice said in my ear. "David is going to meet with us both. After you stop off at home, wait a bit and head for your exercise area. We will be there."

I nodded, knowing that Dr. Stevenson would see me wherever he was.

I arrived home and tapped on the button to see if mom was there, but there was no response. I worried about that, briefly. The way Grant had spoken.... I shook my head. No use in getting worked up over it.

I just hoped Dr. Stevenson and David had a plan.

I got a drink out of the water tower that had been constructed for my use and then leisurely strolled to my exercise area. It was simply a large field with some large concrete castings I could use for extra leverage and such.

I went there a few times a week, even without Dr Stevenson suggesting. I needed to do something to keep myself fit.

Once there I started my stretching routine and casually looked around, trying to spot David and the Dr, but I couldn't catch sight of them.

While my vision is quite keen, it isn't actually that hard for a human to hide from my eyesight at least. So long as you're still I have trouble picking out something so small. If you come in range of my nose, however, there is no shaking me. Dr Stevenson tested me quite thoroughly when he was first assigned.

"We're here, Jason, down in the storage hangar. Don't come over, just go through your work out and listen."

"Jason, David here. I've looked into what's going on and I can't find anything solid. My boss is a bit confused as there were no changes slated for the program that he could see and usually there is a lot of advanced warning on such things."

"I hate to say it, but I suspect that Grant has bought his way in and is after something, though I don't know what."

"I agree," Dr Stevenson said. "It's the what that bothers me. He says construction, gathering something for him that is too delicate for a machine. I'm worried about radiation, or disease, or worse."

"Oh way to reassure the kid!" David said sarcastically and I coughed to avoid laughing. In reality he is only two years older than I, but he's called me "the kid" ever since he was promoted to the project.

"Just trying to be straight forward."

"Jason, I don't see a way of putting a stop to this. Right now if I make any sudden moves it may result in me getting cut from the program. I'm not afraid of loosing my job save for how it would effect you my friend."

I nodded slightly and continued with my workout.

"I want you to go along with Grant. I agree with Dr Stevenson: it's not likely he wants to hurt you if he needs you for something. Your value to him should keep you safe."

"I'd feel better if I knew what that value was," Dr Stevenson said.

"As would I, but for now it's all we have to work with."

"I don't like it, David."

"Like I said, neither do I. I'm going to see if I can arrange for you or some of our team to go along as, and I'm sorry to say it Jason, handlers for him."

"And you said was upsetting the kid?" Dr Stevenson laughed, knowing that I hated that word. "Jason, as a precaution I want you to come by the lab for a small battery of tests. I'm going to give you some medication that should be proof against most of the diseases that we figure you could come down with. It's just a precaution, my friend. "

I huffed a small sigh and nodded slightly. I like Dr Stevenson, but I still hate being poked and prodded at.

"I know," he said softly. "I'll see you in a few hours, Jason."

"Hang in there, kid. I'll get this settled as fast as I can."

I nodded again and continued with my workout. I didn't see them leave and the fact that hey were being secretive worried me more than I'd like to admit. If someone was after them I didn't know what I would do.

Then it hit me.

Dad.

I huddled down in the lab room, waiting for Dr Stevenson, trying not to show my distress and anger. That bastard had threatened my father. Subtly, but the threat was there, left unspoken but all to clear. Wouldn't your father be happy to see you with a job? It would take a load of worry off his mind if something happened to him.

I wanted to crush Grant. Smash him, leave nothing but a pulp behind. I knew I couldn't. One of the things that was written out large in the laws was that any of the changed were forbidden to do any intentional harm to a human. The only way we were allowed to strike out is if our lives were in danger and I probably needn't say just how unlikely that would be.

I caught Dr Stevenson's scent before I saw him walk in. There was no one else with him. It was very, very rare that anyone worked with me solo, but I was grateful.

He stopped when he saw me. "Jason?"

I looked down at him, rumbling in distress and in anger. "He threatened my father."

"I'd kinda hoped you'd missed that lightly veiled threat."

I growled softly. "You want me to be ignorant? Why? So if something happened I would not blame myself?"

"No, it's not like that at all, Jason! What I'm saying is that I hoped that you missed it in hopes that we could figure out what the hell was going on and put a stop to it before you realized it. Your father would be safe and you would't worry."

I stared at him for a moment then lowered my ears and dropped my gaze. "Sorry."

"You're stressed out; I understand. Now pick me up."

"Dr Stevenson..."

"Jason, you need to get over this."

"You have no idea what it was like!"

"Your mother doesn't blame you."

"I still hear here screaming! I still hear her cries of pain when I grabbed her and ran!"

"Did you have a choice?"

My ears went flat and I looked down, holding my breath for a moment. I let it out in a massive exhale. "No! But that doesn't make it right!"

"You did what you have to do and your mother doesn't blame you."

"She forgives me, you mean."

"No! Damnit, there's nothing to forgive! You need to knock it off, Jason! This isn't doing you any good and it makes you hard to work with."

I hissed. "Making your job easier, is that it?"

He looked startled then angry. "Jason Clarke, you know damn good and well what I mean. Are you angry? Upset? What do you feel like doing?"

I went quiet, sitting there sullenly.

"Jason, I want an answer."

I growled, which turned into a whine. "I wanted to lash out."

"And that is why this needs to stop. It's not about you wanting or not wanting to hold someone, Jason, it's about curbing your instincts before they become a problem."

I whined through my nose again and he sighed. "I don't mean to upset you, Jason. Now please, pick me up."

I shook my head and my ears plastered against my skull so hard that I nearly went deaf. "Dr!"

"Jason, now."

"I could-"

"Will you?"

"No, but-"

"Then stop it, lower your hand, and lift me up."

I stared at him for a moment then lowered my hand to him. He climbed aboard and held on as I raised him up to the platform. He leaned out and stroked my cheek a few times. "That's better," he said quietly. "Now let me get this stuff in you and you can go rest or whatever you like."

"Yes, sir."

He'd gotten so good at injecting me and taking blood that I barely noticed it. I was always sort of proud of him for it. No matter that he was the lead on the job, he kept his hands on me, so to speak, as much as possible. I think perhaps that most if it was to help to strengthen our relationship, not because he actually enjoyed the work.

"Alright, all done you overgrown housecat."

I snorted at him and he scratched the bridge of my nose a fiercely. "So what are your plans?" he asked.

"I think I will walk about the compound, possibly up to the hills if you think it to be fine."

"I don't see a problem. Just check with the patrols first."

"it's my home."

"I know that and you know that, but keep them happy."

"Yes sir."