Jason was in the infirmary with Marguerite for the second time at same day. But this time the reason for coming was not himself, but it was the little girl sitting on the chair. Marguerite was reviewing Eve's assay results while the little girl tries not to fall asleep. The little girl's eyes were closed. When her head fell forward, she opened her eyes with a start. After looking around for a few seconds, her eyes slowly closed again.
''Interesting... Didn't you say the girl lived in a hospital before?'' Marguerite asked without looking up from the papers. She was standing in front of her desk. When Jason heard the question, he was busy with thinking that the woman looked charming in the nurse uniform. He nodded, then recognized the woman was not looking him.
''She told me she was.'' He leaned back a little more in his chair.
''I don't understand why. All blood values are as they should be. Height, weight... everything is perfect.'' Marguerite scowled, muttering something incomprehensible. She pulled a few reports out of her desk drawer and started comparing them with Eve's results. ''Weird...''
Jason was watching the nurse with curious eyes, ''Is it a bad thing to have good results?''
The nurse shook her head, ''No... The results are not just good, they are excellent. It's as if I'm looking at my lecture notes, not the results of a real human being.''
''Still, what is the problem with that?''
''Humans aren't that perfect, Jason. Someone who doesn't get enough sunshine will have a vitamin D deficiency, some people do not drink enough water, I have nearsightedness... This girl is like a flower grown in a glass jar, given the perfect amount of sunlight, water and nutrients.'' Marguerite was staring at the little girl as she spoke. ''People's hands and faces are usually darker than their bodies because they are exposed to sunlight all year. Hers are not like that.''
''I'm not sure I understand what you mean, but after all the girl is fine, right?''
Marguerite nodded. ''She is.'' She bit her lower lip without realizing Jason's eyes locked on her lips, she looked at the little girl for a few seconds, then turned to him. ''Jason... She isn't your illegitimate child or something, right?'' Jason looked at the nurse in disbelief. She was looking into his eyes and her face was serious.
''Of course not. What on earth are you talking about?'' His astonishment was reflected in his voice.
Her tensed shoulders loosened up, ''I know, I know, just a rumor. Also when it comes to the girl, you are pretty protective.''
''Don't mind rumors. Believe me, if I had a daughter, I'd take care of her.'' Jason could see that the suspicion in the nurse's eyes did not disappear. ''Protective? Like the motherly instinct?'' He raised his eyebrows.
Marguerite laughed quietly, ''Are you saying you have the maternal instinct? Really?''
Jason wondered what he had to say to hear her laugh again. ''I never said that. Maybe paternal instinct?''
''This is not a real thing.'' Her smile reached her eyes, she leaned her desk.
''Isn't it? Pardon me ma'am,'' He sighed deeply. ''I am a poor child of a poor sailor, I don't know such fancy biology things.'' His curled lips counteracted the pity in his voice.
Marguerite's lips curled too, ''Liar. You cannot be a hunter without training at the Academia.''
''True. But that doesn't mean I was able to pass biology classes.'' Jason's smile faded. ''Would it be okay if Eve stay here while I was dealing with paperwork?''
''If you take me to dinner on the weekend,'' She was still smiling, but her face was dull, as if stuck in her previous expression. She was no longer looking at Jason with glowing eyes. She put her right hand to her left shoulder. ''Could these paperworks... be about the shape shifter murders?''
''Yeah, they are.'' Marguerite pricked her fingers on to her skin. ''You are hurting your own.'' Jason got up from the chair and went over to her. He put his hand on the hand of the woman on her shoulder. ''What is the problem?''
Marguerite turned her eyes away. ''Just an old wound.''
''Want to talk about that?'' Jason placed the woman's hands between his own. Marguerite shook her head. ''Don't worry. I'm sure your scars can't match mine.''
She smiled bitterly. ''Jason... I know SCO is hard on you for staying in the city instead of hunting at the border with other hunters, but... I'm glad you chose to help the police at non-human cases instead of dying in those stupid border wars.'' She freed her hands from Jason and straightened her stance. The pain in her eyes was gone. Now there was anger. ''Can you believe that they wanted us to live with those murderers? They are all monsters.''
''Yes,'' said Jason, ''They are all monsters.''