Grim and Bear It

Jake

After a grueling forty-eight hours, including a blood transfusion, Poppy was finally sleeping. While they couldn't reverse all the effects of Vixen, she was now mostly human. She tolerated eating small amounts and was sleeping for a few hours at a time, but when she got a paper cut on a magazine, she healed within a few hours.

"Maybe it's the venom, or maybe I'm still part reaper?" she'd suggested.

"As long as you're happy and safe, that's the only thing that matters," I returned.

The steady beeping of Poppy's heart monitor lulled me into sleep in a chair next to her bed. A touch on my shoulder had me drawing my weapon and leveling it before I even opened my eyes.

"Just me," Paris whispered, her hands in the air. She reached out and pressed her hand down on my arm, lowering the gun. "Fenton and Romi are going to take over. It's time."

I put my gun away and scrubbed my hands down my face, every inch of me aching and exhausted, despite being euphoric that Poppy was okay. I turned my head to check on her. She was sleeping on her side facing me, her hands balled up into fists in front of her. I reached over and un balled her fists, smoothing out her fingers. She let out a small breath but didn't wake.

I pushed myself to standing, my joints creaking and popping. I was stiff from neglecting to do my exercises and forgoing ice and heat, but all my focus had been on Poppy. Paris turned and exited the room and I limped after her. Fenton and Romi were waiting in the hall. "We're here as long as you need," Romi said.

Fenton agreed. "Get some food and rest. We're well versed in long hospital vigils."

"Text or call when she wakes up," I directed. "And if she needs anything. Or-"

Romi hugged me tight. I fell silent. "We will. Promise. It's okay." She released me and then gripped my shoulders. "You only have to do this once. After that, it's done."

I released a breath. "Thanks."

When we got to Paris's car-I was far too tired to drive she reached into the back and grabbed a lunchbox and set it on my lap. "Ice packs for your leg. Eat the food because I'm guessing you haven't eaten today."

I opened my mouth to argue but she was right. I couldn't remember the last time I ate. Breakfast yesterday? Dinner the night before?

The loud sound my stomach made confirmed her accusation. I plopped the ice pack on my leg and opened a glass storage container to reveal a pasta salad. Using the fork in the bag, I took a bite, then paused. "This is different." "Gluten free pasta," Paris explained. "And garlic oil since I can't use regular garlic. Oh, and nutritional yeast instead of parmesan since I can't have dairy."

I took another bite. "The texture's a bit off, but it's good."

"Eh," she shrugged. "You're just really hungry. It's tolerable."

"Fair." I had finished the pasta and the granola bar she'd included by the time we pulled up to Blackburn House.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face me. "Are we sure?"

I nodded. "We have to tell him and this is the safest place I could think of."

"Even with the ghosts?"

"Especially with the ghosts."

Mina was waiting for us at the door and immediately wrapped me in a tight hug. When she pulled back, her fingertips grazed my forehead near the bandage. "Stop trying to die on me."

"It's on my to-do list," I promised. Now that Fletcher was dead, Mina, Carma, and my family had been released from protective custody. "Your dad here yet?"

She gave Paris a brief hug. "Yeah. We're in the front room."

I tried not to think about how long of a walk it was from the porch to the front room. On a good day, it was just down the hall and to the right. But today, it seemed like miles. Usually, I kept quiet, just dealt with the situation without expressing my needs.

Whether it was just sheer exhaustion or a lesson I learned from Poppy about asking for what I needed, I said, "Grab the rolling chair."

Mina smiled and pushed the door open wider, revealing a computer chair. "Let's roll."

I groaned at the pun but moved inside and took a seat. "Thanks. Don't dump me out."

"Not until after the meeting," she promised. "We plan to get a few wheelchairs to keep on the property for guests. Carma's already working on plans to expand the doorways in the rooms and redesign the bathrooms on the main floor so they're all accessible."

When we moved into the front room, everyone turned to face us, quiet anticipation filling the space. Carma was seated on a black, low-backed sofa, while Jim and Eliza occupied two white armchairs. Eyes on the floor, Paris moved to a matching chaise, opposite the semi-circle from Eliza. The chaise had a skull carved into a decorative wooden piece on the front that was very Carma.

Sebastian and Reggie appeared next to my chair. "There are no other spirits inside," Reggie confirmed.

"I detected no additional supernaturals on the exterior as well," Sebastian added.

I nodded. "Good. Let me know if that changes."

"How's Poppy?" Carma asked.

I gave a brief rundown as Mina passed around cups of coffee and tea, before sitting next to Carma. "I'd like to press pause on the Poppy discussion for a moment and explain why we're here while it's safe." I shot a questioning look to Sebastian and Reggie, who both nodded that we were still in the clear.

I leaned forward and set my mug down on the glass table in the center of our group and rested my elbows lightly on my legs. "Jim, Paris and I believe there is a leak at SHAP."

All eyes studied Jim, who had his ankle resting on his opposite knee and his fingers tented in front of him. "How certain?"

"I would bet my life on it, sir."

He looked at Paris. "And you?"

She handed him a sheet of notebook paper. "I made notes of every occurrence that we believe indicates someone is a double agent."

Jim studied the list for a long moment before handing it back to Paris. "Destroy this." He stood, put his hands in his pockets, and moved to a bank of windows overlooking the side lawn. The trees lining the property line were splashes of orange, yellow, and brown against the thick gray clouds. Unlike Hayvenwood, Applechester was just reaching its peak color season. I'd have to take Poppy on a long drive through the woods.

Jim didn't speak for a long time and we remained silent, giving him space to consider his options. My phone buzzed with

text.

Romi: Poppy's awake and told me to tell you that if you don't take a nap and eat a decent meal before you come back, she will make you watch '27 Dresses' again I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. She and Eliza had that movie memorized.

Me: Tell her I need to catch her up on a lot of movies.

Romi: She says you just evaded promising to eat and nap.

Me: I promise. Tell her I don't want to waste time on a movie I've seen 100000 times when we can watch a new one.

I tucked my phone back in my pocket, then stilled. I had always been waiting for the next thing. The next clue, the next mission, the next promotion. But if the last forty-eight hours had taught me anything, it was that there may not be a next time and I needed to make this time count. The decision crystallized in front of me so clearly, I nearly reached my hand out to touch it.

The antique grandfather clock in the corner ticked a steady rhythm, but instead of the sound twisting my anxiety tighter at the waste of time, it merely reminded me to take in the moment. I looked around the room. To the corner where Poppy and I used to meet near the old bar. To the crown molding I helped Carma and Mina replace. To the spot under the newly repaired chandelier where I danced the chicken dance with my niece. To the hallway outside the door where I first caught a glimpse of Poppy's cloak.

There were so many powerful memories contained within these walls, and so many more I wanted to make. Now there would be one more. I opened my mouth to speak, but Jim turned around first. "Here's the plan. Jake and Paris-"

"Excuse me, Jim," I interrupted, "but please consider this my resignation as an active field agent. I will be starting my role as mentor to Daisy, even without SHAP's backing, effective immediately."

Eliza's head shot up, Mina gasped, and Reggie and Sebastian elbowed each other. Paris gave me a discreet thumbs up. Jim stared at me for a long moment. He didn't ask me if I was sure; he trusted me and knew me well enough to know this decision was final. Instead, he nodded and I swore, for a single moment, he stopped frowning. That was almost the equivalent of a smile.

"You will be sorely missed," he said, then turned to Paris and Eliza. "You two will be partners. Figure it out. Here's the plan..."