Loving the Safari Guide

After our meeting, we are given a hotel room for the night before we start our mission to save the world. We are set to head out to Beijing tomorrow morning. When we get to the hotel Jackson and I are given our own room, which is attached to Abe's room next door. Since we had taken a nice dip in the ocean and didn't have time to freshen up before our little meeting earlier today, I decide to take a shower. When I get out I can hear the boys talking in the other room. Of course, I'm not surprised, in fact, I'd be a little worried if the boys didn't take advantage of the rooms being connected.

When I come out of the bathroom I am in a robe, with my PJs underneath, and my hair up in a towel. As I enter the bedroom area, Abe is sitting at the small table in the room and Jackson is sitting on the bed. I sit next to him and look between the two of them as Jackson wraps an arm around me. "So, what do you think about all of this?"

"I think I agree with your mother and pray to God your father wasn't right."

Jackson nods and looks over to Abe, who sighs, "All I know is I really don't like that Mitch Morgan, he is cocky."

I laugh softly. "How is that any different then the two of you?"

"She's got a point there Abe." Jackson nods.

Abe stands and shakes his head, as he goes to leave the room, closing the adjoining door behind him. Jackson and I laugh together for a moment. As we do, I can't help but think about that French woman, Chloe, and the look she gave Jackson when she saw him. "So uh..."

I can't find the right way to ask the question, but knowing me as well as he does, Jackson knows what I want to know. "I saved her from a lion attack. She was on vacation and her tour group got attacked by the pride of male lions that took Abe." I nod and sigh, as he places his hands on my cheeks. "baby, you have nothing to worry about. I am yours and nothing is ever going to change that."

I smile softly while he kisses my forehead. "Are you sure because dispute what Abe thinks, I think that Mitch Morgan is just my type."

Jackson and I share another laugh, as Jackson lays back onto the bed. "We should get some sleep, the faster we solve this problem, the faster we can get back home and start our little pack." I laugh softly as I lay with Jackson. "Can you imagine it, Kat, a little pride of our own."

I chuckle as I snuggle up with him. "Yeah, I can."

The next morning we wake up bright and early to head to the airport and head out for Beijing,  after Jackson takes a shower. Jackson is looking over some of his father's work we managed to take pictures of before we had to leave, while we are waiting in line for coffee. "Growing up, I never understood my father, and now. Now I understand him even less. You know, when I was 12, he asked me if I wanted to buy his soul."

I look at him confused and a little shocked.  "Who says that to a 12 year-old and what does that even mean?"

Abe just chuckles. "How much did he want for it?"

"We never got to prices." Jackson shakes his head.

Abe looks over to the iPad Jackson is looking over. "Maybe we just need a fresh pair of eyes."

"Abe's right, maybe another Scientist?" I nod, Jackson looks between the two of us.

"Who? Mitch? I wouldn't ask that guy for directions to the men's room." Jackson shakes his head.

Abe smiles. "I remember my Uncle Tebogo's old African saying, 'once you get off on the wrong foot, you land on an even wronger one."

Jackson chuckles softly. "You don't have an Uncle Tebogo, Abe."

"If I did, I am sure he would have said that." Once we get our coffee we head over to the table Jamie and Mitch are at. When we get there Abe sits the drink carrier on the table. "Coffee?"

Jamie looks up almost excited to see the coffee, although after the past few days I can't exactly blame her. "Oh, thank you. You read my mind."

Jackson sits across from Mitch and sits a coffee in front of him, rather awkwardly. "There you go."

"Thank you." Mitch looks over to Jackson.

Jackson looks over to me as I tilt my head over toward Mitch. Jackson sighs softly and steps the iPad down, facing Mitch. "Does any of this make sense to you?"

Mitch looks up and starts to go through the pictures. "Who wrote this, a 7 year-old on a roller coaster?"

"My Father."

"Right. Well, don't have a clue what's going on in most of these pictures, but this, Felidae, and Carnivora."

I look at Mitch a little confused. "That's big cat taxonomy?"

"Uh yeah. Panthera pardus.... Leopards."

Abe looks between Mitch and I confused, before to Jackson. "Leopards? You have any idea why leopards would be so important to your father?"

"No." Jackson shakes his head.

At that moment Chloe comes up to our table. "Guys, change of plans. We're going to Mississippi."

Jackson looks up to Chloe. "Mississippi? What happened to Beijing?"

"There's been a prison fire at Biloxi Penitentiary. It appears no one survived. Not guards, not prisoners, no one."

Jamie shakes her head, confused. "Prison fire, what does that have to do with us?"

"Because at the time of the fire, the prison was under attack. By wolves."