Her anger flamed out hot and fast, and a tear slipped onto her cheek. Ross slid his thumb up to meet it. “You can’t save us all, Tess.”
Her brow creased with pain and confusion. Her lips parted, but before she could say anything Jake had moved to stand over them.
“Do you ever get tired of telling other people what to do?” He reached down and clamped his hand on Ross’s shoulder.
The contact jolted through Ross like a gunshot. His hands flew to Jake’s arms. He meant to shove him away, but Jake’s energy flowed through him, and Ross’s fingers dug into his flesh. He heard Jake groan, and Tess shouted something in his ear.
Ross leaned forward, pressing Jake into the ground. Even as he rode the swell and surge of regenerative current, he remembered: I have to stop.
But Ross found himself caught up in the flood of images firing through his connection with Jake. They were almost all of Tess—a catalog of lust and tender longing. They were harder to break from than the energy transfer itself.
Ross knew Jake had fallen for Tess, but now he was looking at Tess through Jake’s eyes. Jake’s physical longing was a bleak and desperate thing, but it was her heart that had won him. Her smile. The warmth and generosity she’d shown the man who’d almost killed her. Even the pain she kept hidden, and her visceral loneliness—something Jake understood far better than Ross.
“Try not to fight it, Jake,” Tess’s voice broke through Ross’s trance. “I don’t think he can slow it down, so you’re going to have to.”
Ross felt Jake’s tension begin to slough off.
The cascade of energy tapered. Ross took a few deep, controlled breaths, and he flexed his fingers.
The recoil of the release shoved him against Tess. He rolled onto the tarp, body tingling from the slap of energy.
“Are you crazy?” Ross rasped.
“Not half as crazy as you!”
“Don’t you dare do that again.”
Jake snorted. “I did it for her, not for you, asshole.”
Ross clenched his jaws, nostrils flaring, biting back a retort.
Jake shoved himself to his feet. His legs folded, and he swore as he stumbled to his knees. He reached toward the pile of camping gear and pulled out a sleeping bag. Wrapping it around his shoulders, he stood again and stumbled toward the door.
Ross’s gaze fell on Tess’s back. Her chin rested on her arms, shoulders and neck rising tightly with every breath.
“Tess, look at me.”
She buried her face in the crook of her arm, hugging her knees closer. Shutting him out.
Jake was right; he was an idiot. And an asshole. He didn’t know how to both protect her and be what she needed.
He was no longer sure which was more important.
NOTHINGMAN
* * *
Love is a better master than duty.
—Albert Einstein
* * *
ELECTRON BOY was too tired to range far from the nucleus. Hooking the top of the mummy bag over his head, he shuffled around the outside of the building and hunched against the west-facing wall. The cold of the stones seeped right through the bag.
The haze was thicker above the horizon, and the sinking sun tinged the sky a brilliant mango orange. He pulled the bag like a cape around him as a breeze swept through the valley.
Still simmering with anger—and smarting from unfulfilled desire—he decided right then and there that when Tess figured out a way to go back, he was staying behind. He didn’t want to part with her. He could live with the fact she wanted someone else, but he wasn’t going to cling to her like a parasite for the rest of her life, or his.
He could be comfortable here, he thought. Sitting by the fire every night, using the wine stash to keep himself pleasantly medicated, he wouldn’t notice the bleak surroundings so much. He could think of far worse ways to go. There was a bottle of pain pills in the first aid kit, so he’d always have an out for when he could no longer stand his own company. He wondered if there were any books down in that hole.
“I am legend,” he said, then laughed at his own stupid joke. If only he had a few bloodthirsty zombie vampires for company.
His heart ached in anticipation of losing Tess. He’d known her for what, three days now? Spending so much time in her head made it feel like longer. She felt like family. She felt like sunshine on blighted landscapes. She felt like the missing jigsaw piece of his jumbled-up life. He hoped for her sake that Ross could sort his shit out. Had they all been from the same Earth, Jake would have gleefully taken advantage of Ross’s hesitation, but as things were, it was better this way.
Jake’s head jerked up as a silhouette inserted itself between him and the sunset.
“Odd man out?”
* * *
Tess felt Ross’s eyes on her back, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak to him. She wanted to apologize for what Jake had done, but the words felt insincere on her tongue. She was grateful for what Jake had done.
She heard the tarp crinkle and then felt hands at her waist, lifting her, turning her. He pulled her close, cradling her in his arms, his nose nuzzling hers. His lips lowered, softly caressing.
She sighed against his mouth, relieved and bewildered. Her fingertips pressed into his chest. Ross traced the line of her shoulder until his hand came to rest gently against her throat, where her pulse hammered. He circled the spot with the tip of one finger, and she shivered in his arms.
He parted her lips, and she let her head fall back. He bent over her, tongue pulsing and probing against hers, driving her body into spasms of longing. His hand glided up and cradled her cheek, tongue withdrawing just enough to trace her lips. No one kissed like Ross. No one.
“Tess,” he murmured, drawing back to look into her eyes. His thumb brushed her cheek and one corner of her lips. “I’m not very good at this.”
“Oh you are,” she murmured. “Better than anyone.”
The corners of his lips lifted. “Is that why you put up with me?”
She traced the curve of his breast with the pads of her fingers. “That, plus you have the most beautiful chest I’ve ever seen.”
His smile deepened. “Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah.”
His arm tightened around her, and she snuggled closer, cheek against chest. He smoothed a strand of hair back from her face. His voice dropped low, vibrating with emotion as he said, “You scare the shit out of me, do you know that?”
She swallowed, fingers gripping his upper arm and the tensed muscles there. “Why?”
His eyelids fluttered, and he looked away. “The risks you take—with Jake, with Mac.” She felt the shudder run through him. “Your past. Your scars. But mostly because when you’re close to me I can’t think straight—I can’t make decisions. It makes me feel…”
“Out of control.”
He lifted his eyebrows in an expression of outright surprise. “You know?”
“Of course I know.”
“How do you understand me so well when I feel like I only understand you well enough to get myself into trouble?”
A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.
“Now you’re laughing at me?”
“Sorry.” She chuckled again.
“I don’t think you are.” He touched his prickly chin to her forehead. “It’s good to see you smile.”
She reached up and cradled his jaw in her hand.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to us,” he said, “but there’s something else I want you to know. Maybe you know it already.”
She rubbed her fingers over the stubble on his cheek, waiting.
He closed his eyes. “The tension between us … it makes me feel sick.”
Her breath caught, and she nodded. “Me too.”
“I don’t want to fight with you anymore.” His hand slid down her back, resting between her shoulder blades. “But I don’t know what’s going to happen when—”
There was a sudden scuffling near the doorway, and Ross�
��s head lifted.
“Here’s my favorite couple.”
Ross and Tess jumped up. “Jake!” she cried.
Mac stood in the doorway—holding a knife to Jake’s throat.
“Stay where you are or he’s dead.”
Two others came in behind Mac—a man and a woman, both thin and grimy and carrying crude handmade spears. They moved over to the stack of canned food Ross had salvaged and pawed through it with enthusiastic grunts.
“Wow, he was right,” muttered the man. He darted a glance at Tess. “There more of this somewhere?”
“Do that later,” snapped Mac. “I need you to keep an eye on them.”
Ross took a step toward Mac.
“You’re not listening, asshole.” Mac dug the knife tip into the soft skin below the line of Jake’s beard, drawing a trickle of blood.
“What do you want?” cried Tess.
Weak from the transfer, Jake couldn’t do more than pluck at Mac’s arm. Mac was supporting most of his weight.
Mac’s new companions moved between the two groups, spears raised in threat. They looked scared and hungry.
“I want you to get me out of this shithole,” answered Mac. “I want to go back.”
“Do you think we’d still be here if we knew how to go back?” demanded Ross.
“Don’t play games with me.”
“It’s true,” said Tess. “Why don’t you let him go, and we’ll tell you what we know.”
“You have one minute to do what I asked, Doctor. And in case it occurs to you to try and hurt me, we’re going to recruit your friend here as a traveling companion.”
She shot a panicked look at Ross.
“Just take it easy,” Ross said evenly. “We’re not likely to figure this out with you standing there threatening us.”
“Now see, I don’t agree. With the right motivation, I think she’ll figure it out.” Mac narrowed his eyes at Ross. “You try to jump me, and he’s dead.”
Tess’s pulse raced. She knew they weren’t going to talk their way out of this, but what could she do? She didn’t have the control he seemed to think she did.
Mac cupped Jake’s chin, and the blade rose from his throat to his ear, slipping between earlobe and jaw. Jake shouted and squirmed as blood ran down his neck.
“Okay!” she cried. “Just stop it!”
Jake vanished, and Mac stumbled backward.
Instinct launched Tess at Mac, and she landed across his chest. It had been hours since the last transfer, and his energy poured into her, musky and brackish.
Mac let his body go limp. He smiled at her.
Take me home, Tess.
“Shut up,” she snapped.
* * *
When Mac went down, his new friends fled, most of the cans they’d tried to pilfer spilling onto the ground.
Ross dropped beside Mac and Tess. Mac appeared helpless under Tess’s gentle weight, subdued by the transfer. But the asshole was smiling, and Ross didn’t like it.
“Do you think he can hurt her?”
Ross jerked his head at the sound of Jake’s voice behind him. “Where the hell did you come from? Did you dislocate?”
“There was a bright light, and a tunnel thing. I felt like my guts were falling out. But then I was back.”
Ross’s eyes moved back to Tess. “I’m going to pull her off.”
“I don’t care much for that smirk on his ugly face—no offense, G—but she’s feeding. Besides that we don’t exactly know what’s going to happen if you grab her while they’re linked.”
Jake was right, on both counts. Ross moved closer, studying Tess’s face. She frowned in concentration, completely focused on Mac, but showed no signs of distress. As for his twin—he looked like he was enjoying himself, and that was almost more than Ross could take. It was bad enough Mac had put his hands all over Tess, but he was also a reminder of someone else Ross had failed—his brother, Jamie. Mac dealt the drug that had destroyed and almost taken Jamie’s life.
Ross’s muscles twitched. He quaked with anger at his own impotence. He pressed his folded hands against his mouth as he watched Tess, alert for signs that she was in trouble.
* * *
Mac couldn’t escape Tess—his life was draining into her—yet he was in control. He modulated the flow by remaining calm, and he used the current to sail his thoughts right into her head.
See how easy it is to control? I can teach you. Help you with your research—help you save the others. I can be more to you than he can. We can be partners. Equals. We can connect on a level you never could with him.
You and I define connection a little differently.
You must realize you can’t be with him. She felt Mac’s hands clench slightly, squeezing her thighs. You’ll destroy everything that’s important to him. Is that what you want?
Tess’s fingers dug into his throat, as if it could silence him. His breaths rasped through her hands, but she couldn’t keep consistent enough pressure to stop them completely.
Take him home and see what happens. He’ll be pulled back into his world. His job and his obligations. You’ll be the woman who defied orders and had to be tracked down. Unreliable. Unstable. What do you think he’ll do? Rise to your defense? Think, Tess. What will happen to you then?
Worms of doubt bored into her heart. What would happen to her? Would Ross throw away ten years of service in a job he loved? Of course he wouldn’t. She wouldn’t want him to. She’d be off the task force for sure. Ross would be called back to D.C. Would Abby let her keep her job, at least?
You can still save Echoes. I can help you. You need what I’ve learned, Tess. I need what you’ve learned. You’ve gotten so wrapped up in this pointless drama you’re not seeing the big picture. Have you thought about how the transfers and dislocations could be used to help survivors?
The man and his energy were toxic. She wasn’t confused about the fact he was trying to manipulate her. But also he had a point. And she had committed herself to help these people. It was the reason behind every risk she’d taken in the last three days.
You can’t afford to lose sight of that, Tess. And by now you must know that Ross is always going to get in your way.
“Enough, Tess!” Ross’s voice cut sharply between them. “Break it off!”
Like her first transfer, letting go wasn’t as easy as willing it to happen. When it did, she wasn’t sure it hadn’t been more Mac’s doing than hers. The connection released suddenly, and she sprang backward against Ross.
Mac started crawling for the doorway, and suddenly Jake was on him with the knife. He jerked the blade sharply along Mac’s cheek, drawing blood. Then he shoved the tip against the back of his neck. Tess held her breath, wanting it over, yet not wanting to see Jake kill the man.
“Do it, Jake,” called Ross. He let go of Tess and scrambled toward them.
Mac took advantage of Jake’s doubt, flipping over and tossing Jake against Ross. While Ross fought to free himself from the energy transfer, Mac scooped up the knife and staggered to his feet, fleeing the ruins.
Ross untangled from Jake and ran after him, but Tess cried, “Ross, don’t! It’s too risky.”
He froze in the doorway, and she got up and walked over to their box of supplies. Mac’s friends had made a mess of things, but she was relieved to find the first aid kit had not been filched.
“Let’s look at your ear, Jake.”
They sat down on the tarp, and Tess examined him as best she could without touching him. Mac had cut his left earlobe away from his jaw. It was a bloody mess, and he needed medical attention.
Fishing bandages out of the kit, she asked, “So you dislocated?”
“Sort of. I didn’t go back to your Earth. I was in the light tunnel, like when we came here with you, but only for a second, and then suddenly I was back.”
“It seems to have had the same type of trigger. It happened right after he cut you.”
“Yeah. Though I was more pissed than scared.”
She paused in the act of opening a bottle of water. “A ‘fight’ rather than a ‘flight’ reaction. Maybe that’s why you came right back.”
She had him bend forward and tilt his head while she poured water over the wound, wincing sympathetically at his grunted protests.
“So how come we’re taking all the rides?” he grumbled. “Ross has done transfers too.”
Ross had joined them by the fire, and her gaze flickered his direction. “I have a theory about that,” she said carefully.
“You do?” asked Ross.
Jake sat up, and she said, “Smear it with antiseptic. Tape some gauze over it. We’ll see if we can fix it up properly when we get home.”
She turned to Ross. “You said it yourself: You’re very controlled.”
He frowned. “That’s not exactly what I said.”
“Well that can be inferred from what you said. I don’t mean it as an insult. You’re trained to control your emotions.”
“I’m pretty sure he comes by that naturally.”
“Jake,” scolded Tess, and he gave her a sulky look. “It helps you keep your head clear to do your job. It helps you make choices without emotion interfering. It keeps you out of danger. It’s probably become like breathing at this point.”
Ross’s expression relaxed to neutral. “That’s true.”
She was reminded uncomfortably of the warnings Mac had given about him.
She continued. “But Jake is…”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” muttered Jake.
“… more like me.”
Ross’s gaze moved between them. “So if your lack of control is causing dislocation, and my abundance of control is preventing it, does that mean we’re stuck until the next time someone tries to kill us?”
Jake gave a snorting laugh. “Who knew there was a sense of humor in there?”
But Ross wasn’t laughing. Tess replied, “Actually I think you’re our best hope. Once you’ve made up your mind that the dislocation is safer than us staying here, we’ll go home.”
Ross frowned. “I made up my mind about that five minutes after we got here.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
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