Chapter 103
“Did Hannah explain to you what we are doing here?” Jordan asked, his elbows on the table, his hands folded just below his chin. “Did she tell you what we’re building?”
“She did,” Jamie nodded. “It seems… fascinating.” He knew he’d used that word before, but he couldn’t seem to get away from it.
“It will be,” Jordan nodded. “I’m very proud of the plan that Janette and I have come up with. And it’s completely funded by governments around the world who want to make sure their citizens are safe. They just don’t necessarily know precisely what we are protecting them from in all cases.”
“Can you imagine if they did?” Janette asked, giggling a bit and shaking her head.
“We need you to be a part of it, Jamie,” Jordan said, completely serious. “I need you here, with us. While I will certainly be sending you out on critical missions, your main assignment now will be to train the other Healers as they are identified and Transform. I’ve been around a long time, and I have a fairly solid understanding of what our people were like from centuries before I came along, and quite frankly, son, there’s never been another Healer with your kind of talent. Having you as a part of our central team here at headquarters is essential to the changes we are making in the organization. What do you say? Will you be our new Healer Leader?”
Jamie stared at the man before him in silence. For most of the time that Jordan was speaking, he felt confident in his ability to do exactly what was being asked of him. While he had no idea whether or not his talents were fairly represented, he did know that he was more than willing to train other Healers. Working with other people like him sounded much better than being out in the field, hunting down Vampires, taking the risk of being shot or otherwise hit by Hunters who had no idea what they were doing just yet. He thought back to the bullet he’d taken, as well as dozens of misaimed slashes over the years. But it was that last word that hung in his heart for a moment. The words Kit had used when last they’d parted had weighed heavily on his mind for some time now. How could he take this position? He was a Healer, that was for certain, but he was no Leader.
“Mr. and Mrs. Findley, thank you,” Jamie began. “I’m flattered you’d think of me, that you’d offer me such an… opportunity.” He swallowed hard. “But… I’m afraid… I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to.”
“Wouldn’t be able to?” Janette echoed. “Whatever do you mean?”
“I mean… I am a Healer. I can do that portion of what you’ve described. I can teach others how to use the power inside of them to close wounds, repair broken bones, even restart internal organs. I feel very confident in my ability to do that. But… I’m no leader, sir, madam. That’s the part where, I’m afraid, I won’t be able to help you.”
“No leader?” It was Jordan’s turn to repeat him now. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“Of course you are,” Janette nearly scolded. “Why, every Area Leader who interacts with you reports about your professionalism, your bravery, your ability to give commands accurately when called upon to do so.”
“Yes, everyone has been quite impressed with you, Jamie,” Jordan agreed.
“Everyone?” Jamie questioned. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”
“Well, of course Culpepper is always positive, being your uncle and all. But Jeffrey in New York City speaks highly of you, as does Ward from London,” Janette began.
“There’s Eric in Arizona, Vicky in California, and Carson in Washington. I can go on,” Jordan nodded.
“Carson?” Jamie repeated. “He says I’ve done a good job as a leader?”
“Indeed,” Jordan replied. “Granted, he’s moved on, but you worked with him for years. He was always very impressed.
Jamie looked from Jordan’s face to Janette’s. She was nodding along. “But what about… Kit?” he asked. He hadn’t spoken her name aloud for months. “I’m sure she disagrees.”
They both arched their eyebrows and looked at each other. “I don’t suppose we’ve asked her,” Janette admitted. “She’s relatively new to Area Leadership herself….”
“And not doing a particularly find job, I might add,” Jordan said under his breath. Janette cleared her throat, and he looked up at her and shrugged. Jamie wasn’t sure what that exchange was about, but he imagined it had something to do with the fact that Janette was the Hunter Leader, and therefore, Kit’s superior, whereas Jordan was more so in charge of the Guardians. “Listen, Jamie, I’m surprised to hear you don’t think of yourself as a Leader, because you are one. A natural born one, in our opinion.”
“Yes, I concur. How else would you’ve pushed yourself to make it through medical school at such a young age?”
Jamie had no explanation. “Thank you for your confidence,” he said, forcing a smile. “I would love to take the position, on the basis of a trial run. If you think I’m not up to it after three months, I should like to be reassigned.”
“Fair enough,” Jordan nodded. “We will keep your hunts down to a minimum, trying to keep them all local so that you can concentrate on your training here, though if Janette or I are called out for an important mission, we shall want to take you with us.”
“Yes, of course,” Jamie nodded, beginning to let the idea that he would have such an important new job sink in.
“And we want you to start trials with the Transformation serum up again as soon as possible. If you can find a way to make it less painful and quicker, that would be wonderful,” Janette explained, resting her hand on his arm.
“I will make it a priority.” Jamie felt a genuine smile coming on. It would be nice to be part of a team again.
“Excellent. I shall send you down to Ms. Klein, then, and she will call Hannah over and have her show you to your rooms.” Jordan stood and offered his hand. “Welcome to LIGHTS, Dr. Joplin. I hope you enjoy your time here and will stay with us a long, long time.”
Jamie stood and grasped his hand. “Thank you, sir. It is a pleasure to be on your team.”
