Page 40 of Dreaming

“It’s easy to be good to you, Nia. Now, stay off your system. No work for at least another two weeks. You can’t get in anyway. I locked you out. You’ve worked enough for three years.” Taking Nia’s hand, she added, “A couple more weeks to bring you fully back and then home. Are you excited?”

“Yes. Nervous.”

Tildy smiled. “You’re always nervous but you do great every time. I’ve had your house in Chicago cleaned in preparation. There will be food delivered the day you get back. We took care of the lawn and pool, all the minute details, while you’ve been here. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Making your life easier is what we live for, Nia. You just get your balance. Let your Dennis help. He seems great at the job.”

“H-he is.”

“Do you need condoms, lube, or any other supplies?” Dennis was shocked at the casual tone of the question.

“No. I don’t want any of that.”

Tildy was quiet a long moment. “Nia, if you get pregnant, we’ll take you off rotation for two years. For your safety and the safety of your baby. It would be wonderful for you.”

Nia started shaking. “I should work…”

“Breathe. Ssh.”

“There isn’t enough time…”

“You’ve worked without a break for nearly two decades. Breathe with me, Nia. Taking time off to have a baby, that would refresh you. I think it would help you catch your balance after jobs knowing your child waited for you.”

Nia nodded jerkily.

“There now. Think about this…if your little boy or girl was waiting when you got home. Waiting to hug you and tell you everything you might have missed while you were on assignment. Children always smell like baby powder and cookies, I think.” Tildy laughed. “They give great hugs. I bet you’d love those hugs.”

Tears slipped over Nia’s cheeks. “I-I would.”

“I know it. Let Dennis take care of you, love you. By the time you’re ready to go home, maybe you’ll have a tiny person growing in your body. Such a fascinating process. Seeing you happy and fulfilled in your personal life will make all of us so much more settled about using your wonderful brain.”

Taking Nia’s shoulders, she said, “Taking care of you, seeing you happy, is what we do. A baby would be good for your heart. When your heart is full, your brain works even better. Maybe with less recovery time after you push so hard.”

“Thank you, Tildy.”

“You’re welcome, Nia. Let me get stuff to do your brows and order food. Why don’t you show Dennis around when the cleaning people get here?”

“Okay, I will.”

“Everyone will be thrilled to see you.” With a final squeeze, she turned for the door. “Be back in five.”

Dennis went to Nia and picked her up. He hugged her close and kissed her temple. “My Nia. How I love you.”

* * *

The life Nia lived when she was at the underground compound was like something out of science fiction.

Every part of her day was charted to ensure she ate enough, moved enough, and slept.

The people who supported her were kind, soft-spoken, and very much invested in how Nia felt.

During daylight hours, Dennis made love to her, took walks through a facility that blew his mind, and met dozens of people.

They referred to him as her sedative and he began to grasp the enormity of the job she did and the toll it took on her mentally and physically.

At the beginning of his second week with her, he met another member of the Think Tank. A young man, perhaps twenty, who had difficulty looking people in the eye.

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