Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker
Chapter 04

"ENOUGH!" the senior man roared. "SMITH, RELEASE HER IMMEDIATELY." He spat out.

Beth heard the tone of disgust, as the man uttered the word Smith. She saw his face go red with anger, at the blatant display of assault. She felt the cuff being released and as Smith stepped back, Beth turned and slapped him hard across the face. She loved seeing the look of shock and barely suppressed fury in his eyes war with the worry of further angering his boss. He stepped away, rubbing the red imprint her hand had left.

"Smith, you will apologize to Miss Winslow immediately for your appalling behaviour just now, and for the time before. I didn't want to believe it when I heard how you had behaved, but seeing you in action, I'm going to recommend that you be suspended from further field work until I decide you deserve it."

Agent Smith went white and started to tremble in the face of his boss's fury. He muttered out a weak apology to Beth that she knew he didn't mean. Beth hoped his punishment was a long one.

"Miss Winslow, this is agent Thomson. He would like to ask you a few details leading up to the event last week," the administrator intervened.

"Hello Miss Winslow, may I call you Beth? My name is Ron I'd like to apologize on the behalf of the FBI on your treatment."

"You may call me Beth, and thank you," she replied shortly.

"I'd like to explain our interest in this matter. We can do it here if you like? I'd prefer it was just us though," he said, looking at Jenna.

"I'm staying, here, unless Beth objects. I have the same clearance as Beth, and I want to make sure she is treated properly," she demanded, standing her ground.

Beth nodded her agreement and Ron sighed, but agreed. Agent Smith was assigned the Herculean task of guarding the entry door... on the outside. George even went and got everyone a fresh coffee while Ron was getting out a notebook. He browsed over some notes as the cups were brought back to the table.

"Right, let's start, shall we? What concerns us is the possibility of sabotage. While polymer research isn't top secret, there are certain aspects of its use that we don't want to get to be public knowledge.

On questioning some of the staff that afternoon, they reported seeing you enter the vat room just minutes before the warning sounded. None remember you coming out, and none remember seeing Colin enter the area. There were also some alarming aspects of your rescue that bear looking into. One train of thought was, that Beth died and her body removed from the ambulance and a look-alike substituted the following morning. In other words, are you a spy?"

Beth looked at the administrator in askance, quirking her eyebrow at him, showing him how absurd she thought the accusation was. Her mind was scrambling to come up with a plausible story in the few seconds it took for George to return her look with a shrug and raise an eyebrow in silent agreement of her view.

Beth turned to Ron and screwed her face up in concentration as if trying to recapture the images of that day in her mind. She saw no sign that he thought she was using any delaying tactics, as she started to explain her entirely false story.

"It's true I was in the vat room minutes before they ruptured. I was checking the injectors of the additives, when I noticed the temperature had started to climb. I tried to adjust the automatic thermostat manually, thinking it might be stuck. I couldn't see any difference, so I climbed down the access hatch to the induction heating coils that sit below the vat. This allows easy access to sub level three, without having to leave the vat room and go down by the elevator or using the stairs." Beth explained that level three held the support systems and pipe and heating plants for the vats.

"I didn't see anything wrong with the heating system, so I called Colin on his mobile. He was already down in level three, checking purity levels in the additive tanks. He came up to me and said he thought the thermostat might have its contacts welded together. He sent me along to the switchgear near the rear stairs, to check out the voltage and amperage on the vats heating circuits to see if there was any anomaly. I had just reached them when the alert went off. I heard Colin curse and I called out that I was coming to help, but I heard him scream out to me to get out. That was the last I heard of him. I ran up the stairs, reaching the top when the roof fell on me. I woke up later in semi darkness some time later."

"Go on Beth, what happened next?" Ron asked gently.

"I don't know how long after, but I heard some sounds of digging. I crawled nearer, over the debris, where I was stupid enough to be hit by some of the roof when they broke through, I blacked out at that point." Beth snorted in disgust.

"I heard two different versions of your body being recovered. One of the rescue team swore that a slab of concrete had flattened your head. Yet here you are, with head intact. That must be some kind of miracle." Ron speculated, looking at Beth's head intently.

Beth shivered at how close to the truth Ron really was. Ron noticed, but interpreted it as a shudder of how close to death she had come. He apologized for having dragged out the distasteful memories again, assuring her, that he had only a few more questions.

"What do you recall next?"

"Well…" Beth was slow with her answer, as if she had difficulty recalling the scene. "I woke up in the ambulance covered over by a blanket. I was in shock; I didn't know where I was or even who I was. My only thought was to get away; I could hear this voice screaming to run, so I did. I remember falling down in a ditch some time later when I passed out again. It was morning when I woke. I felt pain from my head and was dizzy. I knew who I was, but others things were fuzzy."

"Do you still have some memory loss?" Ron asked, curiously.

"Yes, mainly personal details like what I did with my friends and what conversations we had." Beth admitted, sourly. "Fortunately my experience and scientific knowledge of my field of work remained unaffected." This admission pleased the administrator. He smiled at Beth, before going to get some fresh coffee.

Beth waited, while Ron reviewed his notes. Jenna, who had waited patiently, smiled encouragingly at Beth. Even knowing the truth, she was impressed at the glib way Beth had explained everything.

"Beth, would you object to having your fingerprints taken?" Ron asked.

"None at all, my prints are on file. If you still doubt me I don't mind you checking my house for my prints. As far as I recall, only mine and Ted's are there," Beth suggested, trying to be helpful. She knew any hesitancy would alert the FBI man. Knowing her prints matched those of the dead Beth, gave her some much needed confidence.

Ron stood up, closing his notebook, and help out his hand to Beth. Beth reached out to shake his hand, only to have it grasped gently and pulled to his lips as he bent and kissed the back of it softly. Beth blushed, not knowing what to do or say.

"Miss Winslow, it's been a pleasure meeting you. I'm only sorry that your time was wasted and you were treated so shabbily by one of our junior agents. "George? I'm sorry for doubting you and one of your promising and up and coming researchers. I'll take my leave now." Ron spoke respectively to the administrator. He started to walk out.

"What about my fingerprints?" Beth called to his retreating back.

"Unnecessary," was Ron's only comment, waving an arm at them as he exited the room, gathering up the other agent.

Beth sat down again, having stood as Ron had departed. George thrust another cup of coffee at each of them and told them to take five. He said he would love to stay and chat, but duty called. They both thanked him for the coffee, which he waved off, saying it was a pleasure serving two such lovely ladies.

Beth blushed again, wondering why she felt so happy to be attracting so many compliments.

"That went well," Jenna spoke, breaking into Beth's reverie.

"Hmmm, did you hear what George said?" Beth asked, still a little dazed by it all. "He called me 'promising,' and an 'up and comer,'"

Jenna laughed; pleased Beth was dealing with it okay. "Hey girl, don't rest on your laurels yet, you got to show them, you're as good as Colin."

Beth laughed, which sounded very healthy to Jenna. It showed she could handle having Colin's name mentioned without being over come by a sense of loss of her old masculinity. Jenna was of the opinion that the sooner Beth accepted her new femininity the better. She could begin to learn her new role with out falling back into morose longings of what she had lost.

"While we have a few minutes, how about answering a few of my questions," Beth grinned.

"Ask away honey,"

"Before, when we were talking, you seemed very knowledgeable on the subject of sexual identity and the way hormones affect ones thinking. How come you know this? I mean, it's not something that comes up in normal conversation," Beth asked, curiously.

Jenna thought for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Thinking of a place where it was a common topic of discussion.

"I had a brother, once..." she started, sighing in recollection.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Beth interrupted, misconstruing the 'had,' within the sigh and thinking Jenna was bringing up sad memories of the death of a family member. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories," she apologized.

"Oh no, it isn't like that," Jenna laughed, sensing Beth's thoughts. "I don't have a brother anymore... only a sister. Shelly transitioned several years ago."

"Shelly? I don't understand. Transitioned?" added a very puzzled Beth.

"My brother became a woman, you know, had gender reassignment."

"Oh... oh!" Beth stunned by the news tried to think of something to say. "So Shelly told you all about it?"

"Yes and no, I got involved in a chat room that deals with many TG issues. Shelly was going there after he discovered his true inner self. He asked me to visit when he finally told me his feelings about wanting to become a woman. I talked to another whom through an accident as a young boy, is now growing up as a teenage girl."

"Um sorry, what's TG?"

Jenna laughed, saying she had no reason to be sorry. "TG," she explained was short for transgendered, people who feel that they are born into the wrong sexed body.

"Oh, I guess I never realized other people might be going though what I am," Beth speculated.

"No, you're not alone; there are many thousands out there on hormones trying to get some measure of matching mind with body." Jenna said with a sad expression.

"Your brother, um I mean your sister, is she happy now?" Beth asked wonderingly. "Did she have any problems living as a female?"

Jenna laughed. Shelly loves being female, but I won't say she didn't have problems. Just because she changed sexes, it didn't give her a free ticket to the easy life."

Beth was silent for a few minutes digesting this as she nursed the cooling cup of coffee.

"I suppose I'd better get back to work, I want to do a little work on those polymer samples." Jenna sighed. "Come on girl, snap out of it, I'm sure there's something you'd rather be doing than sitting round here drinking coffee all day."

They both laughed, Beth stood, then hugged Jenna in thanks, for all her support, before she wandered back to her station to look at more readouts. Later that day, Ted popped into where Beth was stuck at the routine tasks. Beth filled him in on what had happened with the FBI. Ted was impressed with her quick thinking and wasn't shy in telling her so. He left for a meeting of the heads. She felt pleased by his compliments, more so than whenever it happened as Colin. Beth was still feeling the pull of attraction whenever she was close to Ted, but now she was feeling a bit more relaxed about it.

A call from Jenna in the early afternoon was a pleasant reminder of their early departure to Jenna's house. Beth cleared away her paperwork in a rush, nearly forgetting her bag as she hurried to her car. Jenna was there with Cathleen, and of course Maggie. Maggie was content to stay cuddled in the small girl's arms. Beth suggested, Maggie stay with Cathleen for the ride home. This made Cathleen very happy.

"Aunty Beth we love yous lots and lots, and I be wery careful wid Maggie in the car and puts her seat belt on." She said very earnestly.

Beth grinned, thinking of Maggie in a seat belt. She caught Jenna's grin and winked at her, before turning to get in her car. Beth followed Jenna for 40 minutes, until they arrived at a secluded home overlooking the nearby river. The house was on the slope of a low hill that blocked out the rest of the suburb. The view was marvellous. Overlooking the river and a nature reserve. Further in the distance you could see the mountain range that bordered this part of the country.

Beth was taken back by the solitude offered by the many tall native cedars that grew around her home.

Jenna showed her around, while Beth complimented her on the decor, something she was finding she was taking more notice of now. 'It must come with the package,' she thought ruefully. While Cathleen scampered after a kitten, intent of exploring every nook and cranny of the house, Jenna made Beth a cup of coffee. They sat looking out of the wide sliding windows at the view.

"Beth... I hate to ask this, but I need to examine you. I want to see how far your transformation has gone. I want to check out the changes in your sex, that means being naked. Are you willing to do that for me?"

Beth shrugged, "sure I guess it has to be done, I'm sort of curious myself."

"Well lets do it in the bedroom, Cathleen is happy playing with Maggie, so we shouldn't be disturbed," Jenna said, standing up.

She led Beth into the main bedroom, where she told Beth to undress. Beth felt a little embarrassed about getting naked with a woman standing watching, but realized there was nothing to get embarrassed about. Jenna's calm non-judgmental attitude also helped Beth to relax. She stripped off, being careful not to leave things on the floor. Jenna handed her a silk robe and asked her to wear that while she got a couple of things. Beth loved the feel of this diaphanous garment as it slid across her body in a quiet swish of sound. It felt heavenly across her perky nipples and she felt them harden as she closed the robe tight against her.

Beth's arousal to the sensuous fabric was interrupted by Jenna's return, but Beth couldn't disguise the sense of pleasure that was showing on her face. Jenna grinned.

"It feels nice huh?" it's satin. No need to feel embarrassed by enjoying the feeling of it against your skin." She confided.

I have one at home, but it didn't feel quite as good as this, unless my skin has increased in its sensitivity," stated Beth, as her ran her hands up and down on the material.

"That's a distinct possibility, we can check that out. Please lay on the bed… without the robe," she added, with a grin.

Beth lay on the bed with her knees up as per Jenna's instructions as Jenna slid a sterile plastic backed paper sheet under Beth's hips to protect the covers of the bed. Jenna started checking out Beth's breasts, kneading them gently and asking how that felt. Beth could see the nipples swell, hardening and sending pleasant shivers though her body. She told Jenna that the nipples hadn't done that before this morning, nor felt as sensitive.

Jenna then got between Beth's legs after pulling on some disposable rubber gloves. Beth felt her parting her lips and insert a finger further in. She twitched, as she felt an electric like shock send a pleasurable signal cascading though her body.

"Aaahhhhh," she gasped, involuntarily.

"Nice?" Jenna asked, as she looked up at Beth.

"Oh yes, indeed," was the reply.

"Well, it seems you now have a very real clitoris, along with everything that comes with it. I see no sign that you were ever male, which means the changes are nearly complete."

"Only nearly?" Beth questioned. It doesn't seem that way to me."

"Well, without a thorough examination with a speculum on a proper table. I'm only guessing. I think your womb will be only rudimentary at this stage. I'd give it a few more days at this rate, for it to fully form, once it does, you can expect a menstrual cycle anytime in the following 30 days.

"Oh God, I can get pregnant?" Beth cried, getting worried.

"Unlikely honey, I'd guess you would be sterile having not really been born a woman," Jenna reassured the shaken woman.

'Sterile?" queried Beth.

"A woman is born with all the eggs she'll ever need in her life, but you were created from a copy. I'd be most surprised if you had eggs, as they are separate. They are contained in the body, but are separate from the actual body. You are almost a perfect copy, I say almost, because to be perfect, you'd have her memories, eggs, and habits."

"I'll still have periods though?" questioned a thoughtful Beth.

"Yes, that is usually connected with the eggs, but is more a shedding of the lining of the womb. A woman with her tubes tied will still menstruate, despite there being no eggs moving though to her womb."

Beth was silent, considering the ramifications of all this new information. The workings of the female body hadn't figured largely in the day-to-day lifestyle of the former Colin. Beth knew she was in for a rapid re-education due to her woeful lack in the matters of the feminine mystique.

Jenna pulled off the gloves and motioned to Beth to get dressed. She then went to make a phone call and by the time Beth came out of the bedroom, a young teenager babysitter from the down the road had arrived. Introductions were made and then Jenna gave Christine instructions on what Cathleen was allowed to eat before they got back, and what time to turn the roast in the oven on.

Beth followed Jenna to her car, wondering where exactly they were going. Jenna was evasive when asked, although a slight grin told Beth, she was up to something. The travelled to a shopping complex some distance away and Jenna drove into the large car park looking for that ever-elusive parking spot. Finding one eventually, they walked into a huge covered mall, which seemed to have one of everything under its roof.

"Jenna, just why are we here? I have enough clothes as it is, without getting more," Beth whispered, trying not to attract attention.

"Honey, you need to learn the fine art of shopping," laughed Jenna.

"There's an art to it?" Beth questioned, looking at Jenna with a disbelieving stare.

"Sure, what did you think we woman do in shops?"

"Um buy stuff I guess," Beth answered, trying to work out why Jenna just gave her a huge grin.

"Wrong, we don't just buy stuff; it's a total immersion thing. You heard the expression of hitting the shops? Well that's what we do, especially in a group. The best description for a group of women hitting the shops is 'a cloud of locusts,' we go through everything, leaving nothing unturned, untried, or compared with."

"Sounds like that would take a lot of time, to try everything on I mean." Beth guessed. "But you don't buy everything you try on, do you," Beth said, thinking of the expense.

"Heavens no. Sometimes we don't buy anything, until we compare it with what's in another shop." Jenna answered, getting warmed up on the subject.

"Well, can you take it easy for my first time; I don't think I want to spend time doing all that right now. I used to just buy what I needed and that was it, quick and easy," Beth pleaded.

Jenna laughed, saying, "Typical male shopping habits. The clothes don't bite you know, there's nothing to be afraid of. Just relax and let me guide you. Soon, you'll see what fun it can be,"

So began Beth's first lesson, Jenna dragged her, at first, reluctant feet into as many stores as was possible in the time remaining. As time went on, Beth relaxed and even admitted it was kind of fun. Jenna made all the difference, helping show her what looked good and what didn't. So many of the multitudes of fabrics felt sensual and Beth wondered why men were limited to wearing the dullest fabrics when there was so many for a woman to choose from.

One thing struck Beth, as she was trying on a long evening gown, was the weight of the satin lined dress. It was deceptive in its look appearing to be much lighter than it was. The way the satin slid around on her body as she turned in front of the mirror, sent shivers through her feminine frame. Half wishing there was an occasion for her to wear it to, she reluctantly and with a feeling of loss took it off and hung it back on the hanger.

Jenna saw that look in Beth's eyes and knew a corner had been turned; Beth would soon be an avid power shopper as most attractive women were, in the near future. They did buy one or two things. Beth saw a nice bra and panty set in a lilac satin, the bra being a demi cup and the panties were hi cut. Jenna approved them, saying it didn't hurt to wear sexy underwear, Beth alone was the only one to see them… unless she wanted someone else to see them. This made Beth giggle, a sound she was getting used to making, and at least she attracted no wondering looks at her feminine laugh.

Jenna called a halt to the shopping when she looked at her watch and said time to leave. Beth wasn't sure if she felt glad or sad at this. Being with Jenna and doing things together had been fun, even if it was "only" clothes shopping. The novelty of buying and trying on women's clothes had been an experience Beth decided to try again soon.

Jenna stopped off at a green grocer to buy some vegetables for dinner. They carried the bags inside Jenna's house and took them into the kitchen. Cathleen was happy to see her mom back and clamped herself like a living limpet to Jenna's leg. Laughing and tussling her daughter's hair, Jenna stumped around lopsidedly with the giggling child still holding tight. Beth looked at the pair of them and wondered what it must be like to share that kind of bond with one's child.

Christine left, after getting her payment for babysitting. It was then left to the two women to put away the groceries. Jenna insisted Beth stay for dinner, which Beth, having nothing planned, accepted happily. Offering to help with dinner preparations, they were immersed in cutting and peeling vegetables when Richard came home, closely followed by Ted. The tantalizing aroma of the cooking roast led the two men into the kitchen, where they saw the two women giggling together, as they worked.

Beth was surprised to see Ted, but looking back at Jenna with a raised eyebrow, she saw a twinkle there that told her she had been set-up. Sighing, but not really upset, Beth with Jenna's permission, shooed the men out, saying cooking was woman's work, which got a laugh from Ted and Jenna. Richard looked puzzled, having missed the joke. Beth talked about whether Richard should be told about who she really was.

"And just who are you?" smiled Jenna. "Last I time I looked, you were Beth?" Jenna pointed out, nodding her head in the direction of the bedroom.

"Hmm, I guess I am, it just seems wrong to deceive your husband like this," Beth conceded.

"In time I will, but not until things get back to normal, no need to have too many involved at this stage," Jenna agreed.

Dinner was excellent and Beth enjoyed getting some of the praise for it, even though she protested that Jenna was really the master chef. Ted was impressed by the way Beth was handling herself; she seemed more in tune with herself, more composed. Whatever the reason for the change, Ted, was pleased for her. Knowing that Colin would have eventually ended up looking like Beth, due to the DNA re-mapping, made him feel less guilty for the idea to mould Colin into Beth at the start. Beth was her own woman, with attributes from the best of Colin and the original Beth. This new Beth was better in his mind than the woman he fell in love with and lost. He hoped to woo this person into accepting his love as herself and not some ghost of his past.

Jenna persuaded Beth to stay with Ted in the lounge, while she and Richard cleared away the dishes. Cathleen, after being released from her high chair, promptly took possession of Beth's lap. Ted sitting next to Beth, watched, fascinated, as the two cuddled, and had fun. Maggie, seeming put out that her favourite lap was occupied, settled for Ted's instead. Ted fondled Maggie's ears absent-mindedly wishing he were fondling something else. He watched Beth's animated expressions as she and Cathleen interacted together.

Jenna came in to get Cathleen to take a bath. Cathleen protested loudly at first, but when Beth offered to help, she conceded defeat and tried to put on a brave face. Jenna was appreciative of the added help, and confessed that bath time was always an ordeal. Beth whispered into Cathleen's ear and put her down on the floor. Jenna was flabbergasted when Cathleen ran into the bathroom on her own.

"What did you say to her? She never runs to get a bath, tell me the secret…please," she begged.

Beth laughed and whispered in Jenna's ear.

"Hmmm, bribing my young daughter with Maggie for the weekend, I'm not sure I approve," Jenna, debated, looking rather stern.

"Oh! I'm really sorry... I didn't mean to..." Beth started to apologize.

"Don't apologize," laughed Jenna, looking at the contrite expression on Beth's face. "I was just teasing; in fact I'm jealous of that good idea. Having Maggie over for the weekend will be fun. I can pop out later and get some food for her. Is she toilet trained?"

"Yes she is, but I didn't think about you having to go out and buy food, I'll happily repay you, just let me know how much okay?" Beth urged.

"Nonsense, we can afford a few tins of cat food." Jenna replied. Maybe we can come to an agreement about sharing the kitten, Cathleen has really taken to her," she added.

"Well, I would let Cathleen keep it if it's okay with you, but at the moment its kind of company for me at the moment. We shared one hell of an experience, and she helps make my house seem just that little bit cosier. I'd think I'd rattle around in it if it wasn't for Maggie."

"Of course I understand, you need to get a husband or a boyfriend to help fill... oh god I'm sorry," Jenna cried out. "How insensitive of me, I just keep thinking of you as Beth and not allowing for the fact there's a very different mind in that lovely body."

"Now the tables are turned," smiled Beth. "It's you how doesn't have to apologize, in fact I'm kind of flattered. If I've adjusted that well that you forget I was a man, then I must be doing something right. You know one of my fears in becoming Beth was that I wouldn't adjust to being female. And go around walking and acting like a man in a dress. I didn't want to be ridiculed and made fun of; I just want to be accepted as normal, like everybody else. I think I can accept being a woman, if that's what I look like and am treated as."

"'Honey if you looked any more of a woman, I'd be scared."

Beth looked puzzled for a moment, then blushed and burst out giggling as Jenna explained.

"Yeah, I'd be scared Richard would only have eyes for you and forget about me," she said in mock seriousness.

Joining Beth as she giggled, the tow women hugged and then turned to see what Cathleen was up to in the bathroom.

Later, bathed, talcumed, and wearing a cute kitten covered nightdress, Cathleen was in bed holding a purring armful of fur. Both Beth and Jenna read her a story, before the imp started to nod off. Maggie unwound herself out of Cathleen's arms and after looking up at the women as though seeking permission; she curled up on Cathleen's tummy and went to sleep. The women smiled at each other, forming a bond between them that would last forever as they gazed on the sleep of the innocents.

Beth found something awakening inside, something that seemed to fill her with a great joy. Her emotions were closer to the surface now and seeing the love a mother had for her child, sort of melted something deep inside her heart. She felt kind of sad that she probably would never experience motherhood like Jenna had. Something seemed to be calling to her, some vague formless need to nurture. Instead of fearing it as a sign of losing more of her manhood, she wanted to embrace it, to become more the woman she felt she was becoming.

Jenna, looking at the face of Beth, and seeing the emotions flitting across them, she rejoiced. Beth was indeed becoming a woman, finally feeling the mothering instinct taking hold. She crossed the room to hug her new sister, needing no words as tears fell from Beth's eyes.

"Come on honey," she whispered. "Let's fix your face before we join the men, okay?"

Beth nodded, not trusting herself to speak just then. With Jenna assisting, it was only a few minutes before they returned to the men sitting in the lounge. Jenna was determined to get Beth and Ted together in a relationship. She thought the two were perfect for each other and just needed a little extra push. She smiled inwardly, thinking of the challenge ahead.

Beth wasn't surprised at finding herself seated next to Ted. She knew Jenna was working her matching skills, but instead of trying to fight against it, she found it easy just to go with the flow. Feeling like a pawn at the will of another, was kind of exciting. It absolved her of any responsibilities or any guilty feelings she may have had of betraying the man she once was. It was a revelation, the release of worrying if she was doing the right thing.

Ted was trying hard to keep his hands off the vision sitting next to him. He felt rather uncomfortable, as his barely contained erection wanted more room to move. He couldn't ease it into a more comfortable position in front of everyone, so he suffered silently as talk of kids and kittens continued. After agonizing for a while, Ted excused himself on the pretext of wanting to use the toilet.

Beth caught a wink from Jenna and a subtle hand movement to indicate Ted's real problem. Richard hadn't seen anything, and was surprised at Beth's giggle, as she realized the reason Ted had excused himself. It was then, that Beth realized she wielded a certain power over men, a power to be used wisely and not abused, least she find herself fighting off the advances of over excited men. She knew from her experience as Colin what it felt like to drool over attractive women, now that she had joined those ranks. She felt more in control of the situation, she maybe physically weaker, but with a little body language, Beth thought she should be able to overcome that handicap.

Ted returned, after flushing the toilet as evidence of its implied use. He sat down again, moving one arm casually over the back of the sofa they were sitting on. Beth could feel the heat of his arm, so close was it to her neck and shoulders. Feeling an urge to tease, she leaned back, her head upturned as she commented on the fancy light fitting in the ceiling. She felt Ted's arm, as the sofa's back compressed making Ted's arm slip closer and touch her neck.

Ted was feeling more relaxed, now that his adjustments had been seen to in the privacy of the bathroom. He had put his arm up on the back of the sofa, resting it behind Beth's back. When she made some comment about an ornate hanging light, she had leaned back and craned her head up to see it. His arm lost its precarious position and slipped down onto her shoulders. He didn't know whether to withdraw it or leave it there, but had a ready apology if she objected. He silently begged that she wouldn't move away, a signal he would take to pull his arm away. What he never expected was for Beth to snuggle against his arm, making it more comfortable and then turning and giving him a smile. Overjoyed at this simple active response, he took the same liberty of gripping her far shoulder and giving a quick squeeze and a smile back.

Beth felt the slight squeeze as Ted responded to her encouragement. She felt oddly pleased and comforted by the weight of Ted's arm around her shoulder. Some small voice of Colin was trying to tell her this was a male arm around her, but she tuned it out and tried to regain the sense of being protected. Thinking about it, she realized that 'Colin's voice,' that she used to hear in her head, was being replaced with 'Beth's voice,' for her internal dialogues. She realized it wasn't a matter of her losing that part of Colin that she used to be, more a getting used to hear her new voice as she spoke and having that same voice being used in her internalisations.

As discussion in the room turned to other things, Beth felt Ted move his hand and start caressing her hair, he was gently combing it between his fingers, and she could feel it being tugged gently. She looked at Ted from the corner of her eye without moving her head. Ted was engrossed on a sporting topic with Richard, and seemed totally unaware of his actions. Beth didn't move, as the slight tugs felt rather nice, sort of what the hairdressers had been like. Beth caught Jenna looking at Ted, before her eyes turned to Beth's. Jenna grinned, her eyes crinkling in amusement. Beth raised an eyebrow then grinned back, wondering if Ted would realize what he was doing and stop or not.

Richard, while talking to Ted, had noticed the arm around the shoulder and Ted fiddling with Beth's hair. In his opinion, they made a cute couple and if the look of adoration he had glimpsed in Ted's eyes, when he thought he wasn't noticed, was any indication. Then the future might see the two getting married. He hoped so, for himself. Marriage had been the greatest joy, made even more so at the birth of their daughter. He looked at his wife and made the minute nod that two people living together learnt, meant time to wrap things up.

"Well, time to let you two love birds to enjoy some time together without us holding you back," Richard, laughed.

Both Ted and Beth blushed, and Ted, extricating his fingers from Beth's hair realized what he had been doing. Somewhere in the conversation, his hand had reached up and had started to play with Beth's hair. Part of his mind was aware on a subliminal level how pleasurable this was, but the information hadn't been passed to the part of the active part that was engaged in conversation.

"Sorry Beth, I didn't mean to… I mean it was..." he trailed off, seeing her smile.

"Ted, it's okay really, I found it rather nice, don't apologize," Beth interrupted.

Beth stood and hugged Jenna, thanking her for everything and the lovely dinner. She then surprised herself by giving Richard a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Beth picked up her handbag and the bag containing her new lingerie and on an impulse that came from nowhere, calmly asked Ted if he wanted to come over to her place for a nightcap.

It was hard to tell who was the most surprised, Ted for being offered, or Beth for offering. Jenna grinned to herself, thinking it wouldn't take much before Ted would be scratching an itch that Beth would find developing. Beth walked out of the house barely registering Ted's agreement on the offer. Beth's mind was running a mile a minute. What had she done? It had seemed so natural. It had slipped out before getting the once over by part her brain that used to do her thinking. She realized she wanted company now Maggie was on loan, and Ted wasn't bad company. He made her feel aroused in a way as never before and she wanted to explore this further, hopefully without it getting out of control. With promises to meet up again and maybe return the offer of a meal Beth climbed into her car and set off homewards.

Her drive home was a blur as her thoughts spun in circles. Ted was right behind her as she entered the driveway and got out. Grabbing her bags, she locked the car as Ted parked his car beside hers. He offered to unlock the front door as she fumbled in her bag for the keys. She accepted and was soon inside, closing the blinds as the lights went on. She dropped the lingerie on the small table in the lounge and went to the liquor cabinet to get a drink.

Kicking off her shoes, she wriggled her toes in the deep pile of the carpet. Turning to Ted, who was standing awkwardly by the couch looking back at her, she asked if he wanted a drink.

"Please, that would be nice. Do you have a beer? I think I need something to cool me down." He replied, swallowing a lump in his throat.

Beth went into the kitchen and brought out a couple of cans of beer from the fridge. Flicking on the remote to the stereo on the way back, she handed Ted the beers before sitting down on the couch. The soft strains of a CD filled the room, as she sipped her drink. She patted the seat next to her as Ted moved towards the seat facing her.

"I won't bite you know," she offered. "Now we have a chance to talk, I want to know how you got on today." she asked, holding her drink carefully as Ted sat down beside her.

Well the first thing I did was destroy the mould, just in case they want to search my place. I broke it up along with the statue; no one will ever discover it now."

"It seems such as shame to have to do that," Beth sighed. "Then what?"

"Oh, about the Will, you mean? Ted asked, as he put one beer down and opened the other. At her nod, he took a pull of the beer and swished it round his mouth before swallowing. "Ah, that hit's the spot. Well I did as you suggested," he continued, happy to be talking on a matter that distracted him as to how lovely Beth looked. The last thing he wanted was to let his ardour for her spoil things and maybe drive her away. "I put the document into the oxidizing oven for an hour on low. After that, I took then directly to your old place, and put them in your filing system. If there's any doubt about the age of the will the aging process I subjected it to, should hold up any tests.

Beth had suggested to Ted about aging the Will with heat and high concentrations of oxygen, which could be achieved in the small oxidation oven at the labs used to subject test samples to accelerated aging processes.

"Then what did you do?" asked Beth, moving closer to Ted so she could bring her legs and feet up on the couch.

"Well…" Ted started, finding Beth nudging against him rather distracting. "I went to the old plant to see what the FBI was doing."

Beth, trying to tuck her legs up in a typical feminine fashion, found she needed both hands free to get her skirt arranged properly, so she handed Ted her drink while she got herself comfortable. She ended up leaning against Ted, who had lifted the arm nearest her with the drink in it as he tried to avoid her bumping it. He lowered it ready to give it back and found he had his arm around her as she took it from him with a quick thank you. Ted was content to leave the arm draped over Beth's shoulder, as long as there were no objections. He continued to talk, feeling elated at her nearness.

"That's when I heard about their suspicions and intent to question you. I tried to tell them it wasn't sabotage or that you had anything to do with it. I rang you not long after, to prepare you. Now, I would like to hear what happened to you when they arrived," Ted finished.

Beth told him about Smith, and how he had treated her. Ted grew angry at that point, but then laughed when she told him what had developed later. Ted hugged her and told her how proud he was of her standing up to the Smith guy. Beth felt safe; knowing someone like Ted cared what had happened to her. She looked up at Ted; her face was only inches away. On an impulse born of gratitude, she arched her neck closer and kissed Ted on the cheek.

Ted was taken aback at being kissed; this wasn't a public display for others, like when they had kissed before. He desperately wanted to return the kiss with interest, but was afraid he'd press to hard and spoil the mood that was developing. Beth on the other hand realized she'd gone over a line she wasn't sure she was ready for. Luckily for her, Ted restrained himself from taking the next logical move. Beth wasn't sure how Ted felt, and she wasn't sure if she was disappointed or relieved that nothing had happened.

They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, both not sure what to say, then they both spoke the others, name simultaneously.

"You go first," Ted offered, generously.

"Ted, you're a man, and I'm finding myself feeling like a real woman, especially after this morning," she started to explain.

Ted raised an eyebrow and looked puzzled. "This morning?"

"I woke up feeling different; Jenna says that whatever was in the polymer has begun changing my internal organs into a woman's. The process has accelerated and it's having its effects on my brain." Ted nodded his understanding and she continued. To put it in a nutshell, I've started to react like a normal woman to stimuli from the male half of the population. It was really apparent to me this morning when the policeman talked to me. I found myself attracted to him in ways I had never envisioned. When you kissed me at the door to cover the paper exchange, my knees felt weak and my insides did a hiccup. Men are starting to look good to me in a sexual way. Beth paused to better see Ted's reactions to her words.

"You were attracted to the policeman?" At her slight nod, he asked the question he dearly needed an answer to. "Were you attracted to me when we kissed?" he whispered, hopefully.

"Yes I was, even more so." Beth stopped, wondering what he'd make of that.

Ted's heart jumped in his chest...yes! It cried. There is hope for me yet. Ted wanted to jump up and dance around the room in joy. He turned to Beth and said, I'm attracted to you too...not the Beth I used to know, but the Beth that was my best friend for so many years." He leaned in and hugged her and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips.

"But Ted," she interrupted, backing away slightly. "I need time; this is too new for me to accept all at once."

"No problem, I don't want to force you into anything your not sure of handling," Ted reassured her.

"Ted… I did enjoy being near you and I want to see where this may lead, but it has to be at my pace. Will you be satisfied to let me take what time I need? I need to know that you won't take advantage of my inexperience in these matters."

"Beth, I'll wait till hell freezes over," promised Ted.

"Well, I hope it doesn't take that long," laughed Beth, giving him another hug.

Ted grinned, "me too," he added, fervently. Changing the subject as his eye fell on the bag Beth had brought in from the car, he asked her what was inside.

"Oh nothing you'd be interested in," she smiled. "Girl's stuff,"

"Hmm, well sorry, but now, you do have me interested. Let's have a look now."

"Ted!" Came Beth's exasperated answer. Sighing, knowing she'd get no peace till she showed him, she handed him the bag and sat back to watch him discover the lingerie.

"Wow! For me?" Ted smirked holding up the bra gingerly.

"Oh sure, I hope it fits you, I had to guess your size." She quipped, watching Ted's face flush, before starting to giggle.

"Funnnny," Ted retorted. Throwing the bra at Beth as if it was contagious.

"Hey, that's no way to treat your new bra," Beth was really enjoying herself now.

Ted grabbed the giggling Beth and silenced her with the only thing he had handy, his mouth. Beth stopped wriggling, letting herself melt in his grasp, as she returned the kiss. Slowly she pulled away, looking at Ted with a searching gaze, which seemed to pierce deep into his soul.

As Ted went to kiss her again, she put a hand up against his chest.

"Please, that was nice, but we are going too fast. Can I see you tomorrow? For dinner perhaps or lunch?"

Ted nodded and stood, lifting her to her feet.

"I enjoyed tonight as well, I'll give you a call in the morning and arrange things then, okay?"

Ted left, after a quick goodnight kiss, and Beth was left alone with her thoughts still on the kiss Ted had given her earlier. Beth went and ran a bath, relaxing in the scented water. Later still, when she lay in bed, thoughts of Ted filled her mind as she tried to picture the two of them having sex together.

Morning was on time the next day, when she woke up. A quick cereal breakfast, followed by a brisk jog to the nearest shop to get a paper, saw her home again in 30 minutes. She really felt alive for some reason, and was enjoying every minute of it. She went and checked out her wardrobe, something she'd been meaning to do, but always got distracted. She marvelled at how many dresses she now had that felt so wonderful to her inquisitive fingers. She was still in there sorting, when the phone rang. Expecting it to be Ted, she was surprised to hear Jenna's voice on the line.

"What's up?" Beth asked, sensing somehow, that this was important.

"I need you to go to the old plant, right now, I've rung Ted and he said he'll pick you up on the way, dress casual, jeans are okay as you'll be wearing a bio hazard suit." Jenna partly explained.

"Oh okay. Is there a problem?" Beth asked worriedly.

"I'll explain later," Jenna then hung up leaving a mystified Beth holding a dead phone. She went and took off the skirt she was wearing and pulled on a pair of soft denim jeans. They felt strange to her new denuded legs and not at all like they used to do when she was Colin. They were rather snug fitting, and she had to suck in a little to get them fastened. It felt strange not having to adjust herself down there, considering the tightness of the material against her crotch. The smooth non-bulging front seemed to strike her as odd, as this was the first time she had worn pants as Beth.

Looking at the way her pants fit at her crotch, she realized it was very neat arrangement. No awkward bits sticking out to get in the way, she recalled the pain of an accidentally jabbed groin. Testicles were very vulnerable exposed like that, and even the penis needed protecting. A memory of an incident, where Colin had raised the wooden seat of the toilet one early morning, and sleepily brought out his penis, not realizing the heavy seat hadn't been pushed far enough back when he'd released it. The pain as the lid came crashing down against the end of his morning woody, had him come wide awake as the pain nearly made him puke.

'No need to worry about that ever again,' she thought. Everything important was tucked neatly away out of danger. Wearing panties felt great and there was nothing to need adjusting, especially when arousal meant nothing bulged to cause more discomfort. Beth grinned as she recalled Ted and his bathroom excuse at Jenna's. Turning back to getting dressed, she added some white socks and a pair of runners and she was ready.

When Ted arrived to pick her up he told her, he knew no more than she did, but hazarded a guess that it was something to do with the polymers that had changed her. When they arrived at the cordoned off site, Jenna greeted them with a white biohazard suit to wear. Once donned, they passed the man that was standing guard after Jenna showed him her authority to enter the place, ordering him not to allow anyone in. That included the FBI until it was cleared of any possible hazards.

Limited power and lighting had been restored to the underground levels, but the elevators where still not functioning. They used the now cleared stairs to go back down two level two. Once they had descended into the stairs, Jenna took off her headgear and indicated to them to do the same.

"This was just a ploy to get in here and keep others out till we are finished," She grinned. "I went to the supervisor and convinced him that there might be a biohazard still here. I offered to investigate and clear things, before rumours of it got out and might delay repairs. I volunteered your names as assistants, seeing your knowledge on the plant, would be essential."

"What's this all about? Why have you asked us here if there isn't a threat?" questioned Ted.

"Remember you explaining why Maggie can squeeze herself under doors and yet returns to her normal shape with no harm and why Colin had similar abilities but without the major return to her Colin shape?" Jenna spoke, reminding them again.

"Yes Maggie wasn't in contact with the polymer from vat 1…so?" Ted replied slowly, trying to see where this was all leading.

Jenna pulled out a notebook and started drawing. "I was thinking about the possibilities of duplicating what happened to Colin. Using the mix of polymer to help my brother," she said excitedly.

"Shelly? You want Shelly to look like me, like Beth? Isn't one enough?" retorted a shocked Beth.

"No, you don't understand, look at this and tell me what you see." Jenna suggested.
 
   

"The polymers from vat 2 and 3 joined together and flowed down the corridor or what was left of it. Maggie was in the path and ended up as she is. The contents from vat one meet the other stream at the junction of the other corridor on the left. It contacted the piece of Beth's body that ended up as the blue print for Colin's current form as it flowed down the corridor where Colin was unconscious by the vent, transforming him into Beth." Jenna explained.

"So?" Agreed Ted, still not seeing the significance.

"So… the two streams meet here by the kitchen then flowed down the corridor to where Ted found the piece of the original Beth. That was about here, near the meeting room, which is approximately 20 feet apart. What if there is still a sample of the polymer left, some where between those two points."

"Oh I see what you mean," Beth stated excitedly.

"What, I don't follow," Ted grumbled.

Beth and Jenna shared a look between them that spoke volumes, before Beth explained.

"Between those two points the polymer has the property to absorb a DNA sample and transfer it to another person."

"Ah…" Ted said finally seeing the light. "You want to find a sample free of Beth's DNA pattern, and introduce one that will give Shelly the body she wants. A true female body and replace the one achieved through surgery and hormones."

"YES!" The two women chorused.

"Well what are you two standing around for, let's get looking," Ted grinned, getting a sour look from the girls.

 

To be continued in Chapter 5

 

Since 06/14/04