"Can you print that?" Peregrine heard Tachyon ask. Dr. Ali gave the nurse instructions in Arabic, and very shortly a computer printout of the image appeared.
"You can climb down now," said Tachyon. "We've seen everything there is to see."
"Well?" Peregrine asked anxiously.
"Everything looks fine ... so far," said Tachyon slowly. "The child appears to be developing normally."
"That's wonderful!" She hugged him as he helped her down from the table.
"If you intend to go through with this pregnancy, I insist on an ultrasound every four to five weeks to monitor the baby's growth."
Peregrine nodded. "These sound waves won't hurt the baby, will they?"
"No," said Tachyon. "The only thing that can injure the child already exists within it."
Peregrine looked at Tachyon. "I know you feel you have to keep telling me that; but the baby is going to be just fine, I know it."
"Peregrine, this is not a fairy tale! You are not going to live happily ever after! This could ruin your life!"
"Growing wings when I was thirteen could have ruined my life, but it didn't. This isn't going to either."
Tachyon sighed. "There is no reasoning with you. Go put your clothes on. It's time we got back to Cairo."
Tachyon was waiting for her outside the dressing room. "Where's Dr. Ali?" she asked, looking around. "I wanted to thank him."
"He had other patients to attend to." Tachyon steered her down the corridor with his arm around her shoulders. "Let's get back..." his voice broke off. Coming down the hallway toward them was josh McCoy. Peregrine was pleased to see that he looked as awful as she felt. He must not have gotten much sleep eitheir. He stopped in front of them.
"Peri," he began, "I've been thinking-"
"Good for you," Peregrine said crisply. "Now if you will excuse us-"
McCoy reached out and grabbed her upper arm. "No. I want to talk to you and I intend to do it now" He pulled her away from Tachyon.
She had to talk to him, she told herself. Maybe everything could be straightened out. She hoped.
"It's all right," she said shakily to Tachyon. "Let's get this over with."
Tachyon's voice followed them. "McCoy. You are undoubtedly a fool. And I warn you, if you harm her-in any way-you will regret it for a very long time."
McCoy ignored him and continued to pull Peregrine down the hall, opening doors until he found an empty room. He dragged her in and slammed the door behind them. He let go of her arm and began pacing back and forth.
Peregrine stood against the wall, rubbing her arm where the marks of his fingers were visible.
McCoy stopped pacing and stared at her. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"I think it's going to bruise," she said, inspecting her arm.
"We can't have that," McCoy said mockingly. "Bruises on America's sex symbol!"
"That's pretty rotten," she said, her voice dangerously quiet.
"True, though," he shot back. "You are a sex symbol. There's your Playboy centerfold, that nude ice sculpture of you at Aces High. And what about that naked poster, 'Fallen Angel,' that Warhol did?"
"There's nothing wrong with posing nude! I'm not ashamed to show my body or to have other people look at it."
"No kidding! You strip for anyone who asks you!"
She went white with fury. "Yes, I do! Including you!" She slapped McCoy's face and turned to the door, her wings quivering. " I don't have to stand here and take any more abuse from you."
She reached for the door handle, but McCoy shoved in front of her and held it closed. "No. I need to talk to you."
"You're not talking, you're being abusive," Peregrine retorted, "and I don't like it one bit."
"You don't know what abuse is," he told her, brown eyes glittering angrily. "Why don't you scream? Tachyon's probably right outside. He'd love to rush in and rescue you. You could fuck him in gratitude."
"How dare you?" Peregrine shouted. "I don't need him to protect me! Him or you or anyone! Let me go!" she demanded angrily.
"No." He pressed her body to the wall. She felt like a butterfly pinned on velvet. She could feel his heavy warmth against her. "Is this what it's going to be like," he raged,
"men always wanting to protect you? Men wanting to fuck you just because you're Peregrine? I don't want anyone else touching you. No one but me."
"Peri, " he said more gently. "Look at me." When she refused, he forced her chin up until she looked him in the eyes, tears rolling