Gifted Connections 4

“They aren’t nice people,” Kade added, looking at Lincoln pointedly.

“Before I become a face to anything, I would like to see the evidence against this man,” Lincoln stated resolutely. “My only obligation to the outside world right now doesn’t start for a couple of weeks, and my agent already knows the events I am unable to attend to at this time.”

“You’ll be here for weeks if not months if you saw it all,” Will said bluntly. “But we can definitely show you everything we have on him.”

Lincoln nodded. “That works for me.”

“I’ll take you with me to my offices after breakfast,” Megan stated. “After lunch, you can join the others for training, or you can remain with me. It’s entirely up to you.”

“We’re doing controlled gift exercises today,” Jaxson said gleefully. “I cannot wait!”

“Which you may not be able to attend,” Will eyed his son’s tray. “It’s not even eight o’clock in the morning. How have you been using your gift so much already?”

“Come on, Dad,” Jaxson said in exasperation. “I’m growing! I’m just hungry.”

Will looked at him in disbelief, clearly not believing him. Will looked at all of us, and we all hastily looked away, even Lincoln.

“But if you use your gifts during training today, you can’t help Harry! You might be too tired!” Alex protested.

Will looked over at Alex with an apologetic look. “This will be the first time we’ve had group training since the SC team got here and the other Knights. It’s important that they attend.” Once he saw Alex’s crestfallen look, he quickly added, “But don’t worry. We’ll come up with a game plan to help Harry. We know how important it is. How do you propose to help him?” He looked over at us.

“I’m going with Alex to see what we’re working with,” I informed him. “And Jace will be there to help him remain calm.”

“I can jump him too,” Lincoln added.

W

e all looked at him. “How will that help him if you take over his body?” Noah asked in confusion.

“I can jump a person without taking complete control,” Lincoln smirked.

Before we could ask him what he meant, Jaxson stood up abruptly and started belting out the song, Barbie girl.

He held his arms up high with a huge smile. “I’m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world.” He twirled around on one leg. “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic.” He began to prance back and forth in the middle aisle of the cafeteria as he groped his own breast. “You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere!” He mimed brushing his hair before he began to strip his shirt off. “Come on Barbie, let’s go party, oh oh oh!” Jaxson jumped up and did an awkward split jump.

The cafeteria erupted with laughter as Jaxson looked over at us, coloring slightly. Troy and Noah nearly fell out of their chairs as they laughed.

“Do it again, Blake!” Ella squealed with laughter.

I held my hands up smiling. “It wasn’t me.”

Jaxson took his seat as he pulled on his shirt. He pretended to glare at Lincoln. “Okay, man. We’re even.” He laughed then, getting over his embarrassment. Even he had to admit singing Barbie Girl by Aqua was hilarious.

“I’ll determine when we’re even,” Lincoln stated with a wicked smile.

“Dare I ask?” Will asked with an amused smile.

“It was a harmless prank,” Jaxson said in a disgruntled tone.

“I’m sure it was,” Will smirked as he drank his coffee. “What is a partial jump?”

“When I first learned how to jump, and before I worked on it,” Lincoln explained, “I was able to do partial jumps. They knew I was there. Most people tried to…push me out. In the beginning, some of them were even able to.”

“I feel like I need a shower now,” Jaxson grumbled.

“Can you feel him?” Kade asked in wonder.

Jaxson mocked a shudder. “Yeah.”