Amy and Mia had made it to the car and did as James had asked by getting the engine running.
The uncomfortable walk out of the building was almost derailed by a young intern who tried to stop Jules to ask a question. Amy fended off the eager young college student by telling her that Mrs. Stewart was ill and she should keep a good distance away. The explanation was plausible, Mia, who was still coming to her senses looked confused and very pale.
Amy kept watching the front of the building where some of the night analysts were just arriving for work. She drew a sharp breath, put her hand over her mouth and tensed as she noticed the shift supervising analyst and a security guard stop James and Eric as they came out. Her pulse quickened as she saw James gesturing wildly and the supervisor pointing at the building. Eric was hugging his dad's arm tightly and shaking his head.
When the security guard grabbed Eric by the elbow, Amy flew into action. "Hold on" she said to Mia and threw the car into gear.
'"Mom...what are you doing?" asked Mia holding tightly to the door handle.
Everyone on the sidewalk looked suddenly as the SUV flew up onto the curb. James used the distraction to his advantage and struck the security guard in the side of the head with his briefcase knocking him backwards. James grabbed Eric by the arm and the two ran quickly to the waiting car. Eric's red hair and unsupported breasts were flying everywhere and he was having a hard time running in flip flops.
The two jumped into the back seat of the waiting car. "Go!" he said and Amy pressed down on the gas and zoomed off the curb and away. James looked back. The supervisor was on his cell phone and the security guard was still sitting on ground nursing his head.
"What do we do? What do we do?" Amy asked frantically.
James continued to stay silent while looking backward, and didn't turn around until the building was out of sight. "I'll call Sean" he finally said.
"Your gold buddy, the lawyer?" Amy asked
"Yes, we're going to need help. Let's just get home" " James said. He looked over at Eric who sat there red faced and out of breath staring at his hands.
"Put your seat belt on Eric" James said.
Eric turned toward his fathers voice. "Dad? What happened?"
"You and your sister had an accident" James said. "Do you remember going into my lab?" he asked and unbuckled his own seat belt to reach over and buckle Eric in who was still confused.
With a "Click" he had him safely fastened and put his own back on. Eric looked down at the shoulder strap trans versing his chest, now nestled between mounts of flesh beneath the white lab coat he was wearing.
James reached into his pocket and handed Eric a pair of glasses. "Here son, put these on".
Eric grasped them and slid them onto his face. He blinked a few times as the world came into focus. "Much better" he said, then cleared his throat and looked around. He looked at the passenger seat, and then in the back seat. "Where's Mia?" he asked and again cleared his throat.
Mia turned to face him.
"Oh hi Mrs. Stewart"
Mia rolled her eyes, still red from crying. "I'm Mia dufus"
Amy shot Mia a glare. "Knock it off Mia"
Eric stared at the lady he knew as his Dad's associate confused, but suddenly it was all coming into focus. The lab, the boxes falling the noise and light. He looked down again at his hands. They were small, with pudgy little fingers and well shaped finger nails. Amy hit a pothole causing a minor earth quake under his lab coat. He reached up and carefully opened it, revealing a sweat stained grey t-shirt. The skin beneath seemed to be alive, swaying and bobbing with each little bump in the road. He looked up and caught is reflection in the rear view mirror where he could see Mrs. Stewart's red hair and her round red face staring back. He reached up and touched his cheek, seeing the face in the mirror do the same. "Ohhhh shit" he said softly and looked over at his dad, well over and up at his dad who was now much taller in the seat as he was.
James looked at Eric with sad eyes. "I'll find a way to help you, help both of you"
Amy stifled a sob and wiped a tear from her eye. Mia closed her eyes hoping this was just a dream and rested her head back against the seat.