{"id":1221,"date":"2022-04-25T20:17:36","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T01:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=1221"},"modified":"2022-04-25T20:17:36","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T01:17:36","slug":"part4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode14\/part4\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 14: \u00a0In the Wink of an Eye<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 4<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pearl looked up from her computer, where her fingers had been flying across the keyboard for the past couple of hours. She laughed to herself. Sure, she knew she had more important things to focus on right now. That new intern K had forced upon her was bound to show up soon. But she\u2019d needed a break, and after spending a long time on Wink, she\u2019d gotten a better idea of how she could spend her time. She\u2019d always wanted to see how many of these people she could get to. Seeing how the off-shore accounts owned by Jeff Bezos didn\u2019t sense her at all felt like a sign that she could do what she wanted.<\/p>\n

I can do a lot with this,<\/em> she thought with a satisfied smirk, stretching. But, as her eyes drifted up towards her monitors, a better idea came to mind. She could hack the Pentagon later. K hadn\u2019t returned with Jay just yet, and no one had come by her lab. A few more keystrokes, and, suddenly, all the screens went black. Pearl checked her phone for any texts, just in case, before standing and heading out of her laboratory. Didn\u2019t K want her out of there more? Maybe he\u2019ll be happy I listened to him this time.<\/em><\/p>\n

There was a clear destination in her mind. Truth be told, she didn\u2019t even have to think about it. It was like there was nothing holding her back for once. All her anxieties, all her overthinking, and all the chaos in her brain had finally gotten quiet. It seemed pretty clear what she wanted at that point. Her sneakers were near silent as she walked down the halls towards the 00-ranking agent quarters. There was a sense of freedom in her smile as she turned a corner.<\/p>\n

Another set of footsteps caused her to pause and back up so she wouldn\u2019t be seen. As she peeked around the corner, her blue eyes narrowed, and her brow furrowed. What is Lancy doing here?<\/em><\/p>\n

Once she saw him knocking on Nick\u2019s door, she picked up her pace. This wasn\u2019t exactly what she had in mind. Not at all. Not that it mattered. She had a feeling she could get Lancy to go away and find Diamond if she tried hard enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Lancy, something wrong?\u201d she heard Nick ask as he opened the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou like my purple jeans?\u201d Lancy asked, leaning in the doorway. \u201cAren\u2019t they the sexiest thing that you\u2019ve ever seen?\u201d It sounded like he was talking in song lyrics; his words struck her as that cheesy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re nice for\u2026 um, jeans.\u201d<\/p>\n

A loud thump<\/em> echoed loudly and was soon followed by the heavy door slamming shut. \u201cOh, Nick!\u201d This time, the sound was more like a thunk<\/em>. If eyebrows could fly off her face, Pearl was sure they would have. She heard Lancy\u2019s breathless voice say, \u201cYou\u2019re the reason why cavemen drew on the walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet off me!\u201d Now there was a dull thud<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Pearl hurried down the hall to Nick\u2019s room, quickly entering the override code to get in — a code she was pretty sure only she and K knew. She threw the door open just in time to see Lancy jump off the ground and run at Nick in a strange tackle. Nick\u2019s look was a horrified mixture of shock and stunned surprise as the two landed firmly on the bed. Before he could do anything against his suddenly far-too-aggressive secretary, Lancy whipped out a pair of fuzzy purple handcuffs and cuffed Nick to the metal frame of his bed. \u201cLancy, what the actual fucking shitballs<\/em>?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it too much to ask for one minute to breathe?\u201d Lancy murmured. \u201c\u2018Cause you take my breath away like I\u2019d never sink.\u201d He gazed down at Nick for a moment before leaning in close, licking him gently along his neck. If Pearl had been asked to describe his expression, she would have said it looked like Lancy was a blind man seeing for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the fuck?! Dude, I\u2019m not okay with this!<\/em> Anyone have a rape whistle?!\u201d His eyes widened with hope once they caught sight of Pearl in the room. \u201cPearly! Help me get out of here! He\u2019s lost his fucking mind!\u201d<\/p>\n

She snapped back to attention. It was easy to keep watching like it was a television show. But that\u2019s not what you want, is it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Lancy looked up sharply. \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl smirked as she walked up to the bed and, with a force that reminded Lancy that she\u2019d done the same basic training that any and all agents went through in their time there, practically threw him off the bed and onto the floor. He rolled back, hitting his head against the wall, which stunned him long enough to give her the opportunity she needed. Pearl crawled onto the bed and straddled Nick under the guise of freeing him from the cutesy handcuffs. \u201cI got you, Blondie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank god you\u2019re here Pearl or–\u201d<\/p>\n

She slid her hand underneath his shirt, ripping it open and watching as the buttons flew everywhere. Nick\u2019s eyes were so wide she half-expected them to pop out just like Drums\u2019 did. \u201cShhh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t often that she saw Nick blush, but he did then. His skin was redder than she\u2019d ever seen. \u201cPearl?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t this what you\u2019ve wanted, Nick?\u201d she asked softly, reaching up to free her long blonde hair from its ponytail. He watched as it came tumbling down in loose waves. \u201cMe, on top of you? Undoing those cuffs and letting you\u2026\u201d She leaned down, leaving a trail of kisses along his chest. \u201c…do whatever you want with me?\u201d Pearl grinned as she reached into his pants. \u201cI think someone<\/em> thinks that\u2019s what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d He licked his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if I said I want it, too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do?\u201d He looked shocked but happy at the same time. His reaction made her smile, too — gently this time. \u201cBut–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be on top of you if I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t we share?\u201d Lancy said as he stumbled to his feet and finally regained his balance.<\/p>\n

She paused, settling back as she considered. \u201cMaybe we can. I don\u2019t like sharing, though. I like what\u2019s mine\u2026\u201d Pearl reached down and stroked Nick\u2019s cheek. \u201c…to stay<\/em> mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre\u2026 are you alright, Kit?\u201d Nick finally managed to ask — which was impressive given that her other hand had gone back down his pants once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m better than I\u2019ve ever been.\u201d Pearl stripped off her t-shirt, revealing the lacy blue bra beneath. \u201cI thought earlier that I wanted to just vent to you, to let you listen while I talked about feelings. But, really, this is so much better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick gazed bemusedly at her, unable to come to grips with what was happening right before his eyes. \u201cI never thought you\u2019d\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet myself become one of your \u2018Carter Girls?\u2019 I know. It seems so silly now, resisting all those years.\u201d She shot a glance at Lancy, who had now come to sit on the other side of the bed. \u201cYou can watch, and maybe later–\u201d She grinned before leaning down to nibble on Nick\u2019s ear. \u201c–we\u2019ll see where this goes. I may be greedy, but part of me always wanted to try a threesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick snapped his head up as the reality of what Pearl just said hit him. \u201cWait, what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPearl, I want my<\/em> turn.\u201d Lancy leaned in, smoothing his hands on Nick\u2019s chest. \u201cYou can\u2019t keep him like this. He\u2019s too much man<\/em> for just one.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed. \u201cI suppose round one can be both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRound — what? Wait, share? I–\u201d Nick sounded so confused; it was endearing.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck, you\u2019re adorable.\u201d It was like Pearl didn\u2019t have a filter, and she loved it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl and Lancy looked to the door, startled by yet another interruption. Nick smiled in relief when he saw Diamond standing in the doorway. \u201cDi! I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on, but Lancy cuffed me down, and Pearl\u2026 well, I like what she\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to hear it.\u201d Pearl leaned down and pecked his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut she\u2019s still acting crazy and saying she might share me with Lancy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond giggled as she approached the bed, running her fingers over the fuzzy handcuffs. \u201cThese are nice. They\u2019ll hold up well and be soft on Nick\u2019s wrists so he\u2019ll be comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy grinned from ear to ear. \u201cI\u2019ll text you where I bought them later. They have the best<\/em> toys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough with the handcuffs! Can you get them off so I can get up and tell K they\u2019ve lost their minds?!\u201d Nick practically screamed, though his voice cracked a couple of times, thanks to Pearl having gotten bored with the entire conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf she\u2019s sharing with you\u2026\u201d Diamond pouted. \u201cWill you share with me, too?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy blew a kiss at her. \u201cBest besties always share.\u201d<\/p>\n

She squealed. \u201cYou\u2019re the best! Nick, we\u2019re all going to have so much<\/em> fun. I can show you so many new tricks we can\u2019t do when it\u2019s just us.\u201d Diamond tilted her head toward Pearl and Lancy. \u201cIt\u2019ll be tricky because the bed is only so big, but we\u2019ll all be able to play if we get creative.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDesiree?! The hell?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll all get a piece?\u201d Pearl confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll three of us.\u201d Diamond winked. \u201cPeople always brag about menage a trois<\/em>, but we can brag about a menage a quatre<\/em>.\u201d She ran her hand through Nick\u2019s hair, then down his chest. \u201cOr keep it our little secret.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a secret,\u201d<\/em> Pearl sang softly as she held a finger up to her lips. \u201cCan you keep it? Swear this one you\u2019ll save\u2026\u201d<\/em> She leaned in, kissing Nick along his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, ladies, you two would be a dream come true. Can we just\u2026\u201d Nick looked between the three of them. \u201c…swap Lancy out with Red? I\u2019m sorry, man, but you\u2019re not my type.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, Nicky.\u201d Lancy grinned hungrily. \u201cYou\u2019re ours tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHELLO?! SOMEBODY?! ANYBODY!!!\u201d Nick shook the bed as hard as he could, making as much noise as possible. \u201cWhat the hell is going on here? Did someone pump some mutated aphrodisiac in the air? HELP!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond tossed her hair back and giggled. \u201cYou\u2019re so cute.\u201d She pressed a kiss to his lips as she unzipped her dress. \u201cReady for round three today? I know I am. Lancy, help Pearl with Nick\u2019s pants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy leaped toward the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHEEEEEEEEELLLLLLP!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Red Jewel couldn\u2019t sleep. There was too much on her mind: Opal\u2019s unsolved murder\u2026 The Rok\u2019s sudden disappearance\u2026 not to mention the mole in their midst.<\/p>\n

It was the memory of her most recent case that haunted her the most. When she closed her eyes, she could still see K\u2019s lifeless body lying on the table in her infirmary, a mere four minutes away from death. By the miracle of modern medicine and technology, she and her team had managed to bring him back from the brink, but it had been a close call — too close for comfort. Someone had almost killed their leader by implanting that microscopic bomb inside his heart — while he was sleeping<\/em>, no less. Where would they strike next? Who would they strike next?<\/p>\n

Red tossed and turned, the top sheet twisting around her legs until she couldn\u2019t take it anymore. She pushed back the covers and rolled out of bed, pulling her black and white polka dot pajamas into place. Sliding her bare feet into a pair of fuzzy black cat slippers, she wrapped a satiny red robe around herself and tied the sash before she left her private sleeping quarters.<\/p>\n

She padded down the dark hall to her infirmary, deciding it was time for a pharmaceutical intervention. If she didn\u2019t take something to relax her mind and help her sleep, she would be a zombie the next day.<\/p>\n

The lights were off in the infirmary, but as she let herself in, Red noticed a faint glow coming from the far left corner of the large room, where the drug closet was located. She frowned. It wasn\u2019t like her to leave any lights on when she locked up for the night.<\/p>\n

She flipped a switch on the wall, and the fluorescent lights buzzed to life. Squinting as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, she crossed the infirmary and cautiously approached the drug closet. Suddenly, her heart leapt into her throat when she heard voices coming from inside it. Her worst fear was confirmed: someone had broken in!<\/p>\n

She froze on the spot, contemplating what to do. Should she confront the intruders herself or call for backup? On the one hand, she knew she was no match for someone dangerous. She was a doctor, not an agent — she didn\u2019t have the same combat training most of her colleagues did. On the other hand, she would feel foolish if she woke one of her bosses in the middle of the night for what turned out to be nothing.<\/p>\n

She decided to try contacting Pearl first. The scientist was a night owl; she would probably still be up tinkering in her lab and could check the footage from her surveillance cameras. Plus, Red had a direct link to her. She reached down her pajama top until her fingertips brushed against the ruby cross pendant that rested close to her heart. She brought it up to her lips as she pressed a tiny button on the back. \u201cPearl?\u201d she whispered. \u201cPearl, come in!\u201d She waited, but there was no answer. Perhaps the scientist was asleep after all.<\/p>\n

Against her better judgment, Red crept closer to the drug closet. Curiosity outweighed her fear; she wanted to see for herself who was in there before she called for help. She hugged the wall, keeping well out of sight of anyone who would happen to look out the small window in the door to the closet. Pressing her body against the doorframe, she leaned over and peered through the window.<\/p>\n

At first, she didn\u2019t see anyone. Then, looking down, she caught a glimpse of red hair and immediately relaxed. It was just her assistant Archie, she realized as she recognized the man who was sitting on the floor, dressed in a pair of dark purple scrubs. She rolled her eyes, annoyed with herself for overreacting and with him for freaking her out in the first place. What on earth was he doing in the drug closet this late at night? They had no patients to monitor, and he had already finished the monthly inventory earlier that week. He had no business being there. Almost as immediately as she had relaxed, Red became suspicious again. Could he be the mole?<\/p>\n

With narrowed eyes, she watched Archie through the window, wondering what he was up to. He didn\u2019t seem to be stealing drugs or mixing deadly poisons. He was just slumped on the floor in front of the counter, his back pressed against the wall of cabinets, his legs stretched out in front of him. His head was bent over his phone, which he held in his lap, apparently so engrossed in whatever he was watching that he hadn\u2019t even noticed the lights flicker on in the infirmary. Surely he would have been more observant if he were trying to be stealthy.<\/p>\n

Red took a deep breath before she knocked on the door. Archie jumped, his head jerking up. His eyes widened when he saw her through the window, but then he beckoned her in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing in here?\u201d Red asked him as she walked into the drug closet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou gotta see this, Doc!\u201d Archie giggled, waving her over. He was slurring his words. Crouching down in front of him, she saw that his pupils were dilated, despite the bright fluorescent lighting. He was clearly high on something.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you take, Archie?\u201d she asked, frowning.<\/p>\n

Archie didn\u2019t answer. All he said was, \u201cCheck it out,\u201d as he thrust his phone in her face.<\/p>\n

Red blinked, her eyes struggling to focus. At first, she didn\u2019t understand what she was watching. The video showed a dark-eyed woman wearing a lacy blouse, lavender boa, and matching fedora talking to the camera. \u201cLet\u2019s see, what else can I tell you about?\u201d<\/em> Upon hearing the deep, masculine voice, Red did a double take. She recognized that voice — and those soulful brown eyes, despite the thick layers of mascara and black liner he had used to disguise them.<\/p>\n

\u201cJay??\u201d she gasped.<\/p>\n

Archie giggled again. \u201cI know, right? He sure makes an ugly drag queen. But you should hear the tea he\u2019s spilling!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! I know!\u201d<\/em> Jay went on, his eyes brightening. \u201cI found out that our secretaries have private meetings where they share all our juicy secrets.\u201d<\/em> As he leaned closer to the camera, Red suddenly realized why she hadn\u2019t recognized him at first: he was clean-shaven. She had never seen him without facial hair. \u201cLike, did you know Pearl hates all her assistants?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, and I can understand why,<\/em> thought Red as she glanced at Archie. \u201cWhat is this?\u201d she asked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the Wink app,\u201d Archie replied, pointing to a small logo in the bottom right corner of his screen: a purple W with a pair of simple, black eyes. The left one was closed in a wink. \u201cHave you downloaded it yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Red frowned. \u201cI\u2019ve never even heard of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s brand new\u2026 Diamond\u2019s secretary told me about it this morning. It\u2019s freaking addicting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I can see that.\u201d While Archie returned his attention to the video of Jay, Red studied her assistant, wondering again what he was on. She looked around the drug closet for evidence of what he could have taken, but she didn\u2019t see anything out of place. There were no pill bottles on the counter or syringes left lying around, nothing to suggest he had taken anything, but why else would he be hanging out here after hours?<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, I have it on good authority that 008 keeps a pink stuffed crocodile hidden in his desk.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Archie laughed hysterically at Jay\u2019s words, throwing his head back until it bonked against the cabinet. \u201cA pink crocodile!\u201d he repeated, as if it was the punchline to the funniest joke he\u2019d ever heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you okay?\u201d Red asked automatically, but Archie didn\u2019t respond. He didn\u2019t even seem to notice that he had hit his head. She was just about to request a blood sample from him so she could run a tox screen and find out what was in his system when she suddenly honed back in on what Jay was saying.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 002 used to work at Walt Disney World\u2026 as Aladdin! Ha! Can you imagine K as Aladdin? \u2018A whole ne-ew wooooorld!\u2019\u201d<\/em> Jay sang, throwing his hands out dramatically. \u201cAnd speaking of \u2018whole new worlds,\u2019 you haven\u2019t lived until you\u2019ve been on a \u2018magic carpet ride\u2019 inside K\u2019s nasal cavity. Talk about boogers!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHeh\u2026 boogers.\u201d Archie leaned back against the cabinet with an amused smile, his eyelids drooping.<\/p>\n

Red frowned again. \u201cWhen did he record this?\u201d She didn\u2019t think K would be happy if he knew one of his agents was talking about his boogers on social media. Not to mention, Jay was coming dangerously close to revealing details about the classified mission to defuse the bomb Dr. Rough\u2019s minion had planted inside K\u2019s body. If their other enemies found out FANS had breached their walls once, Himitsu Takana would be even more vulnerable to another attack.<\/p>\n

Archie didn\u2019t respond right away. When she looked over at him, Red saw why. His eyes were closed, his chin dropping to his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cArchie!\u201d she snapped, shaking his shoulder. He lifted his head, blinking blearily at her. His pupils were still unnaturally large. \u201cStay awake, Archie.\u201d She gestured at the phone in his hand. \u201cWhen did Jay record this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now,\u201d Archie murmured. \u201cIt\u2019s live\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShit,\u201d Red hissed as he nodded off again, the phone slipping out of his limp hand. She pressed her fingertips to the carotid artery in his neck, feeling his pulse. It was rapid and irregular. \u201cDamn it, Archie, what did you take?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then there\u2019s 007,\u201d<\/em> she heard Jay say. \u201cDid you know how much plastic surgery that dude\u2019s had to keep him looking young? He basically gets a whole new face every decade or so.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Red hesitated, torn over what to do. It was her duty as a doctor to take care of Archie. But it was also her duty as a HimTak employee to tell K that one of his agents had gone off the rails. Making her decision, she snatched Archie\u2019s phone off the floor and closed the app. Then she called K, whom Archie had listed as \u201cDr. Eyebrows\u201d in his contacts.<\/p>\n

The phone rang three times before she heard a croaky voice answer, \u201cAgent K.\u201d Clearly, K had just woken up.<\/p>\n

\u201cK, it\u2019s Red. I\u2019m sorry to call you at this hour, but I thought you\u2019d want to know…\u201d Hurriedly, she explained what she had seen and heard on the Wink app.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for telling me this,\u201d K said curtly when she finished. This time, his voice was clear. \u201cI\u2019ll take care of it.\u201d With a click, he hung up.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

K climbed quickly out of bed, cramming his feet into a pair of plain black slippers. He opened his closet and pulled a matching robe off the hook on the back of the door. He put it on over his pajamas, which were also black with white trim. He had debated getting dressed in his usual black suit before leaving his bedroom, but had ultimately decided that protecting the secrecy of his agency was more important than maintaining a professional appearance.<\/p>\n

Agent Jay had always put protecting HimTak ahead of professionalism, which was why K could hardly believe what Red Jewel had told him: that Jay was live on the internet, blabbing his agents\u2019 secrets to the world. But he had never known Red to lie, so he hurried down the hall to Jay\u2019s room to find out for himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cJay!\u201d he called, rapping his knuckles on the door. \u201cIt\u2019s K. Open up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He heard a rustling sound behind the door, which opened a few seconds later to reveal Jay, wearing women\u2019s clothing and more makeup than Diamond and Lancy combined. \u201cHey, K! What\u2019s up?\u201d he asked casually, leaning in the doorway.<\/p>\n

K stared. Jay\u2019s fingernails were painted the same shade of fuchsia as his pants. He wondered what Emerald would say if she were to walk by and see him now.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou kinda caught me in the middle of something, buddy, but come on in if you want. You can make a cameo in my Wink video!\u201d<\/p>\n

K cleared his throat. \u201cActually, that\u2019s what I came to talk to you about. Have you been revealing private information about our agents online?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay shrugged. \u201cNothing important — just that Nick keeps a stuffed pink crocodile in his desk and–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c–And that you\u2019ve been inside my body<\/em>?\u201d K interjected.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you should try it sometime. Going inside someone\u2019s body — preferably a woman, if you know what I mean.\u201d Jay wiggled his eyebrows.<\/p>\n

K frowned at the implication that he had never been with a woman. It wasn\u2019t true, although he supposed he couldn\u2019t blame any of his agents for making such an assumption. He never talked about his late wife. Yet he couldn\u2019t imagine being with any other woman but Kristin.<\/p>\n

\u201cJay, if anyone outside these walls found out we were in possession of the kind of technology Pearl has developed for us — if they found out our agency existed at all — we would lose our biggest advantage: secrecy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDude, I\u2019m sure whoever injected that bomb into you and stole the alien device has already told dear ol\u2019 Dr. Rough all about the super secret technology Pearl has developed for us,\u201d Jay replied flippantly. \u201cIn fact–\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Jay could finish, K was distracted by the sound of a distant scream. \u201cHEEEEEEEEELLLLLLP!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

His heart leapt into his throat as he looked at Jay. \u201cDid you hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay nodded, his expression sobering. \u201cIt sounded like it was coming from down the hall. This way!\u201d He brushed past K and barreled down the hall, his lavender boa fluttering behind him. K followed on his heels, flinching every time he was hit by a flying purple feather.<\/p>\n

At every door, they stopped for a second to listen, but they didn\u2019t hear another sound until they approached 008\u2019s room. Through the door, K could hear the creak of bedsprings, followed by a dull thump. \u201cOh, Nick!\u201d cried a female voice.<\/p>\n

Rolling his eyes, he exchanged a knowing glance with Jay. \u201cDiamond,\u201d they both said in unison.<\/p>\n

They were about to move on to the next room when they heard another female voice call out, \u201cHold on, Nick\u2026 I\u2019m coming!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay and K looked at each other again. \u201cPearl??\u201d<\/p>\n

A third voice, undeniably male, replied, \u201cGirl, you better hurry up and help me get these pants off him before I cum in mine!\u201d<\/p>\n

Their eyes widened. \u201cLANCY?!?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, a fourth voice let out a muffled scream. \u201cThat\u2019s Nick,\u201d K said in a low, uncertain voice. \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on in there, and I\u2019m not sure I want to know, but if Nick\u2019s in trouble\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay didn\u2019t hesitate. He raised his right leg and kicked the door hard, just above the handle. It made a loud bang, but nothing else happened.<\/p>\n

K gave Jay an incredulous look. \u201cDid you really think you could kick down a door made of reinforced steel? In those shoes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay looked down at his lilac suede loafers. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with my shoes? Aren\u2019t they fabulous?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sound like Lancy. Did he let you borrow that outfit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. From the sound of it, he\u2019s in there having an orgy with Nick, Diamond, and Pearl.\u201d<\/p>\n

K frowned. He couldn\u2019t believe that was really what was happening behind Nick\u2019s closed door. Diamond, yes. Pearl, possibly. But Lancy? No way. Yet, he didn\u2019t have another explanation for the muffled cries for help, and he couldn\u2019t just ignore them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMove,\u201d he directed. As Jay stepped aside, K knocked once on the door. \u201cNick?\u201d he called. \u201cIt\u2019s K. Y\u2019all better be decent in there \u2018cause I\u2019m coming in.\u201d He punched in the passcode on Nick\u2019s keypad.<\/p>\n

Jay looked at him in astonishment as the secure door unlocked with a click. \u201cYou know Nick\u2019s code?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I know the override code for every agent\u2019s door, in case of emergencies,\u201d K replied smoothly as he reached for the handle.<\/p>\n

Jay\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cWhy don\u2019t I know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you\u2019re not the boss — and you have a big mouth.\u201d K turned the handle and opened the door.<\/p>\n

Despite Jay\u2019s warning, he was not prepared for the scene that awaited him inside. Nick was lying on his back on the bed, both wrists bound to the bed frame by a pair of fuzzy purple handcuffs. Diamond, wearing nothing but a lacy, lavender bra, was sitting on his face. Pearl, also topless except for a blue bra, was straddling his hips. She fumbled with the waistband of his underwear while Lancy stood at the foot of the bed in a pair of purple skinny jeans, struggling to pull down Nick\u2019s pants. He was struggling because Nick kept kicking, flinging his legs wildly as he squirmed around on the bed.<\/p>\n

K felt his eyes widen as he watched the scene unfold, his jaw dropping in disbelief at what he was seeing. Finally, he came to his senses and shouted, \u201cWhat the fuck<\/em> is going on in here?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond, Pearl, and Lancy all froze as Nick looked up. \u201cK\u2026 thank god,\u201d he croaked when Diamond scrambled off of him.<\/p>\n

K frowned at his agents. This was not what he\u2019d had in mind when he had suggested they use this time to forge stronger relationships with each other. \u201c008, I knew you were a ladies\u2019 man, but all of them at the same time? And Lancybassy, too??\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick shook his head frantically, his face bright red. \u201cIt\u2019s not what it looks like!\u201d<\/p>\n

K raised his eyebrows. \u201cReally? Because it looks like some kind of kinky m\u00e9nage \u00e0… quatre<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond beamed. \u201cThat\u2019s what I said!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the term was \u2018love triangle,\u2019 not \u2018love square\u2019,\u201d said Jay, snickering.<\/p>\n

K allowed himself a rare smile. \u201cIt\u2019s a love rhombus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s a rape rhombus<\/em>!\u201d shouted Nick.<\/p>\n

K\u2019s smile faded back into a frown. \u201c008, why are you arguing the semantics of this with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you talking about semantics in the first place?! Can\u2019t you see what\u2019s happening here?!\u201d Nick howled. \u201cThey were trying to rape me<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay snorted. \u201cC\u2019mon, Carter. You expect us to believe you\u2019re actually upset that two beautiful women–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a beautiful man!\u201d Lancy inserted, striking a pose in his purple jeans.<\/p>\n

\u201c–were trying to have sex with you at the same time?\u201d Jay finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d cried Nick, his blue eyes wide. K was startled to see tears shining in them. \u201cNow, can someone please<\/em> take off these cuffs? Lancy put them on me; he has the key.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without another word, K held out his hand to Lancy, who silently placed a small, silver key in his palm.<\/p>\n

As he approached the bed to unlock the handcuffs, K heard Nick mutter, \u201cYou know, this is why some people don\u2019t report rapes. Because they\u2019re worried other people won\u2019t believe them — or worse, that they\u2019ll blame<\/em> them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe you,\u201d K said quietly in Nick\u2019s ear as he removed the restraint from around his wrist. Remembering why he had been roused from his bed in the first place, K felt uneasy. Some of his most trusted agents were acting strangely. First Diamond, then Jay, and now Pearl and Lancy, too? Had cabin fever caused this crazy behavior, or was something else happening inside the walls of their headquarters?<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d replied Nick as he sat up, rubbing his wrists.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you okay?\u201d K asked, and Nick nodded. K placed the purple handcuffs in the pocket of his robe as he turned to address the trio of half-dressed seducers. \u201cI\u2019ll be holding onto these for now, Mr. Lancybassy. And I\u2019d like to see the three of you–\u201d He paused, his eyes shifting to Jay. \u201c–make that four<\/em> of you in my office immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

They all began to protest at once.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d Jay blinked in disbelief. \u201cWhy me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy let out a nervous titter. \u201cAw, c\u2019mon, K, we were just trying to have a little fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t we at least put our clothes on first?\u201d asked Pearl, trying to cover herself as she climbed off the bed.<\/p>\n

Diamond\u2019s mouth dropped open in dismay. \u201cYou mean right now?!\u201d she cried, clutching her wrinkled dress. \u201cK, it\u2019s the middle of the night!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cImmediately!<\/em>\u201d he repeated so firmly that they all fell silent.<\/p>\n

K felt like a father trying to figure out how to discipline his naughty children as the four of them followed him to his office. He ushered them in, shut the door, and sat down behind his desk.<\/p>\n

Pearl slumped into one of the chairs on the other side of his desk and folded her arms over the front of her purple t-shirt, looking down at the floor. Diamond perched on the edge of the seat beside Pearl and crossed her legs, jiggling her foot as she stared determinedly at a framed piece of art on the wall. Lancy stood behind them, wringing his hands, while Jay paced in the corner.<\/p>\n

Steepling his fingers on the desktop in front of him, K looked at them for a few, long seconds before he finally spoke again. \u201cWell? Do you want to explain yourselves?\u201d<\/p>\n

At first, no one answered. After a long pause, Lancy threw his hands in the air and exclaimed, \u201cDo my actions really need explaining? I\u2019ve had a not-so-secret crush on 00Carter for years! He\u2019s always been oblivious, of course, but earlier today, he helped me with this dance for Wink, and\u2026 I dunno, maybe I misread his signals, but I thought I picked up on some pretty obvious sexual chemistry between us while we were practicing. I didn\u2019t act on it then, but I was feeling cute tonight in these purple jeans, so I decided to drop by his room and take my shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy handcuffing him to his bed.\u201d K arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n

Lancy shrugged. \u201cYeah\u2026 I thought it\u2019d be fun — you know, like roleplaying!\u201d<\/p>\n

K shook his head. \u201c008 is right. That\u2019s not roleplaying; it\u2019s attempted rape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cNo! I never meant to hurt Nick, I swear! I thought he wanted to try something new!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did — with me, not you!\u201d snapped Pearl, glaring at Lancy. \u201cNick\u2019s been trying to get in my pants forever, and tonight, I was finally going to let him. But no<\/em>, you just had to go and ruin our first time together!\u201d<\/p>\n

K couldn\u2019t believe what he was hearing. He hardly recognized his head scientist. The woman sitting in front of him looked like Professor Pearl, but she didn\u2019t sound like her at all.<\/p>\n

Before he could ask her why she had suddenly changed her mind about sleeping with Nick, Diamond cut in. \u201cOh, Pearl, don\u2019t kid yourself! Nick only wanted you when he knew he couldn\u2019t have you! We all know I\u2019m<\/em> his favorite Carter Girl!\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl rolled her eyes. \u201cMost frequent<\/em> doesn\u2019t mean favorite<\/em>, Diamond. You said it yourself: what he really craves most is what he can\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay snickered. \u201cDoes that mean Emerald is actually his favorite Carter Girl? \u2018Cause that\u2019s the one woman at this agency Nick will never have.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they continued to bicker back and forth, K picked up the phone on his desk and dialed an extension. After a few rings, a breathless female voice answered, \u201cInfirmary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRed, it\u2019s K,\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cI need you in my office as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPsh\u2026 Red?\u201d he heard Lancy snort in the background. \u201cPlease. She\u2019s far from Nick\u2019s favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it an emergency?\u201d asked Red. \u201cI\u2019m a little busy here at the moment. My assistant Archie broke into the drug closet and took something; I\u2019m still trying to figure out what so I can treat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

K felt his brow furrow as he considered the possibility that Diamond, Pearl, Lancy, and Jay were also under the influence of some drug. Could they have been poisoned? \u201cHe may not be the only one. I\u2019ve got an office full of people who are acting out of their minds. Can you take a look at them, too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can bring them here. I don\u2019t want to leave Archie alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019re on our way.\u201d He hung up the phone and rose to his feet. \u201cEveryone, follow me. Your next mission starts in the infirmary.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Red hadn\u2019t seen her infirmary so full in a long time. She had spent the last half hour bustling between the beds of her five new patients, checking vital signs and taking blood samples. Aside from Archie, none of the others showed any physical signs of drug intoxication. Yet, mentally, they seemed altered.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod, I\u2019m so horny,\u201d Pearl groaned, flopping backward on her bed in obvious frustration. She left her knees bent, her legs spread wide open.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and me both, babe,\u201d replied Lancy, who was perched on the edge of the bed beside hers. \u201cBut at least you don\u2019t have one of these<\/em> to deal with.\u201d He uncrossed his legs and pointed to the prominent bulge in the crotch of his tight purple jeans. \u201cWhat is it they always say in those Viagra commercials? \u2018Seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been, like, forty minutes,\u201d said Diamond from the next bed. \u201cYou\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRed?\u201d Lancy called across the room. \u201cWill I be fine, or do I need immediate medical help?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need a cold shower,\u201d said Jay, snickering as Red rolled up the lacy sleeve of his blouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cDi\u2019s right — you\u2019ll be fine as long as it doesn\u2019t last more than four hours,\u201d Red replied patiently, tying a tourniquet around Jay\u2019s tattooed arm. \u201cJust try to think about something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d Lancy let out a wistful sigh. \u201cAfter eight years of being the only gay man in a building full of sexy, straight alpha males, I finally came close to fulfilling my wildest fantasy: me and 00Carter\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, we\u2019re not all<\/em> alpha males,\u201d argued Jay, gesturing to himself. \u201cI happen to be very in touch with my feminine side.\u201d He wiggled his fingers, flaunting his bright fuchsia nail polish.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold still,\u201d Red warned, pushing his hand back down until it was resting palm up on the bed again. She palpated his forearm, feeling for a suitable vein from which to draw blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cDude\u2026 just rub one out already,\u201d she heard Archie mutter from the bed behind her. Glancing back over her shoulder, Red was relieved to see her assistant sitting up and looking more lucid than he had an hour ago. The treatment she had given him — activated charcoal to absorb the drugs he\u2019d ingested and intravenous fluids to flush them out of his system — seemed to be working.<\/p>\n

\u201cEw, not here!\u201d Diamond squealed as Lancy unzipped his fly.<\/p>\n

With a sigh, Red rose from her stool and pulled the curtain closed around Lancy\u2019s bed to give him some privacy. Then she returned to Jay\u2019s bedside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I don\u2019t like needles, right?\u201d Jay said nervously as she rubbed his arm with antiseptic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be gentle,\u201d Red promised, setting the alcohol wipe aside and picking up one of the blood collection tubes she had prepared. \u201cJust don\u2019t look.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, is this really necessary?\u201d He let out a high-pitched laugh. \u201cLook at me — I\u2019m fine!\u201d<\/p>\n

Red looked, her eyes lingering on his lavender boa. \u201cUnless you\u2019d like to tell me why you\u2019re suddenly wearing makeup and women\u2019s clothing, yes, it\u2019s necessary. We need to know what\u2019s causing this abnormal behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbnormal?\u201d Jay repeated, his false lashes fluttering as he blinked furiously. \u201cWhy is it that a woman can wear whatever she wants, but when a guy wants to wear something pretty, it\u2019s considered abnormal<\/em>? Who decided purple and lace were only for women in the first place? Purple\u2019s the color of royalty, for god\u2019s sake! Kings used to wear purple and<\/em> lace! So fuck your gender norms! Why should I have to conform to what today\u2019s society says I should wear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYaaasss, king!\u201d Lancy cried from behind his curtain.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a point,\u201d Pearl agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m finally free to be me, and I\u2019ve never felt better! There\u2019s nothing wrong with– motherfucker!<\/em>\u201d Jay screamed as Red slid the long needle attached to the tube into his vein. \u201cJesus! You could have fucking warned me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Watching the tube fill with dark red blood, she shrugged. \u201cSorry. I thought it was better to do it while you were distracted.\u201d When she finished collecting the sample, Red withdrew the needle and covered the small wound with a cotton ball. \u201cKeep pressure on it for a few minutes,\u201d she told Jay as she stood up to take the samples to her lab. \u201cI\u2019ll be right back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite her efforts to remain calm and professional, Red felt deeply troubled by Jay\u2019s uncharacteristic rant and the others\u2019 reported behavior. \u201cIt\u2019s like they\u2019ve lost their filters,\u201d she told K later in the hall outside the infirmary. \u201cWhatever thoughts and feelings fill their heads come spilling out with no regard for anyone else, causing them to act on compulsions they would usually repress. They\u2019re clearly under the influence of something that has taken away all their inhibitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

K frowned. \u201cWhat do you think it could be?\u201d<\/p>\n

Red shook her head slowly. \u201cI\u2019m not sure yet\u2026 but if it\u2019s some kind of toxin, I\u2019m going to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 5<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 14: \u00a0In the Wink of an Eye Part 4   Pearl looked up from her computer, where her fingers had been flying across the keyboard for the past couple of hours. She laughed to herself. Sure, she knew she had more important things to focus on right now. That\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1201,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1221","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-jH","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1222,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1221\/revisions\/1222"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}