Beleth noticed her and got up, taking the Seeker into another room to put him to bed. When he came back, Simmons hadn't moved. The soft glow of the television flickered in the background as they stared at each other.
Beleth stepped toward the door. "I should go."
Simmons nodded. "Thanks for watching him."
"I thought you'd be out later."
Lucy could tell they were both stalling, and held her breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
"He didn't show up. Had to work again." She dropped her purse on the hallway table.
Beleth sighed. "I'm sorry. You look lovely."
He walked toward the door, but Simmons grabbed his hand and stopped him. They held each other's eyes for a long moment, then moved in for a forbidden kiss.
***
Simmons came to the house, looking for Steele, carrying several bags with her. "Honey, I'm home!" She smiled, eager to see her husband.
Steele walked down the stairs holding a baby.
Simmons dropped her bags. "No. How could you?"
His face remained cold, impassive as he reached the bottom of the stairs to stand in front of her. "Now, don't be rude. Say hi to Sam."
"I'm not saying anything to that thing," she practically hissed.
The bundle in his arms wiggled and a small cry escaped. "But she's our daughter. Don't you love her? Don't you love me?"
"Of course, I love you, but you've taken things too far."
"Really." Steele dropped the mock lightheartedness. "I've taken them too far? You're the one who's been away for over a year on a secret assignment with IPI. That's an interesting amount of time, don't you think. Enough time to give birth to a child and then recover before coming home."
He rocked the baby in his hands, cooing at her.
Simmons tensed and backed away. "How?"
"I read Beleth's memories," said Steele. "It was obvious something was going on. Now I know. So, where's the baby?"
"I won't tell you."
Steele roared and raised a fist at his wife. "Where is he?"
She shrank back, whimpering, but her voice stayed strong. "You'll never find him. Read my memories if you want. It won't help you. He's gone."
"Oh, I will find him. That I swear to you."
***
At his lab once again, Steele looked over reports on the breeding program. Some babies showed amplified powers, but others showed a decrease.
Lucy's thoughts melded with his.
He needed a new approach, and needed to expedite the process—perhaps more growth hormones. If the babies grew faster, he'd get a lot more done, and would be able to experiment more with transferring powers between paranormals.
Simmons walked in. "Steele?"
Steele's jaw stiffened, but he didn't look up. "We have nothing left to discuss." He slammed a folder down. "I thought I made that clear."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not here for you."
Steele turned to find her and Beleth standing in the doorway.
Simmons took a step in. "The program is being shut down."
He stood. "What? You're not serious."
"I'm sorry, Steele." Beleth walked in, but left the door open behind him. "IPI no longer considers this laboratory a worthwhile investment."
Other agents rushed in and began collecting documents, files and computers from the lab.
Steele looked around frantically, grabbing his own papers even as the agents took them from his hands. "How can you agree with this?" He threw his hands up and gestured to the lab. "We started this together, the three of us."
"And we're ending it." Simmons kept her voice calm, but Lucy could hear the strain behind it. "Paranormals were only meant to be enhanced agents. We've accomplished that. There's no need to keep experimenting."
Steele started laughing, a bit like a mad man. "You selfish bitch. You can't stand being normal, can you? Can you?" he yelled the last part, pacing the room in a rage.
She stepped back from him. "Calm down."
He knocked a pencil holder across the room. "I don't think I will."
The other agents noticed the argument and a few came to stand beside Simmons. She nodded her head. "Restrain him."
They grabbed Steele and dragged him away. He didn't stop yelling even as they pulled him through the door. "You can't stop progress, Simmons. You can adapt or die."
***
Steele gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white as he sped down the highway in the darkness.
The Seeker sat in the back, holding his favorite toy and crying. "Why are we leaving?"
"It's your mother's fault, Son. She loves someone else more than us, but we'll get her back. I promise you that."
The boy's sobs followed Lucy into the next memory.