Chapter 11
Life can be trying if you let it. The deal with Caroline's father was a bit close to home. It would get worse. Come to find out, he had cancer of the pancreas which was very hard to control. The doctor there didn't give him much hope. He said that he could go through the pain and suffering of kemo and radiation. But he personally didn't feel that he would benefit from it. But there was this new program that was 99% successful and would allow a full life. There was this one little hitch though. At that point Robert David Rodgers stopped the Doctor.
"You mean DIGEM don't you."
"Well, yes I do. How do you know about this?"
"Dr. Allen Gurber is our son in law."
"Really, amazing. I didn't know. Although I don't personally like this program, it saves lives at an amazing rate."
It was bound to happen. Sooner or later, someone very close to our me and my and wife would be the precipitant of the drug I had turned lose on the world.
We were quietly off on their honeymoon trying to stay away from phones and people. How could you blame US? After all, it was a miracle that anyone close to the research they were doing wouldn't be hounded by the press or prospective patients or relatives of such. You know, we never told anyone where they we going. Not that any one would have bothered us anyway.
Caroline was becoming very famous in her own right. She had been running the drug program for zoo's all over the country. The physiological aspects of the primate research would continue for many years. The animals on the program could be called confused at best and phycodic at worst. In the beginning, they would have to be put in isolated cages or housed by themselves. Being born as one sex and transformed into another would have a severe social and behavioral affect. The animals involved could not reproduce because of the trauma inflected by the change. But a valuable animal could be saved by genetic mutation. The research Caroline was doing began to show some positive results though. As the genetic mutation became set and normal, the animal would take the traits of the opposite sex. It took a couple of years for the full roll reversal to occur, but it did happen. It did other things too. It literally immunized the animal from any kind of desease known. This trait was showing up in humans also. Zoo's all over the country would rather deal with a temporary solitary animal than a dead one. Plus the research value was invaluable.
I had told everyone that we would not be back for at least 2 weeks. I was glad that I was not around during all this. Things were turning ugly all over the country. Hate crimes were up to a very high level. The office was getting calls from attorneys all over the country about the research and wanted an interview with Me so that they could use the information in a case they were working on. One even produced a summons.
"It wouldn't do any good", The office tried to explained.
"We don't even know where he is. Its their honeymoon."
The obvious difference between the human patients and the animals was the ability to reason and overcome nature and instincts. (Most of the time.) The human animals were out and taking shots even at us. Our presence in the French quarter was still mostly a secret to the outside world. Now the residents of the area knew more than the public. (Thank God.)
Leslie was at 10 months. She was in absolute bliss. She felt that things would be very much better for her and one look in the mirror was enough. Her mind was wandering and thinking about things when she remembered. There was a little ceremony that was kept very secret from everyone except those who had completed the program and were single. She had some suspicions as to what it was, but she was keeping my mouth shut. (She had seen the absolute look of ecstasy and embarrassment coming from those who had been through the ceremony.) She would wait.
Billie and Robert were staying in the quarter and seemed to be doing quite fine. Robert didn't need to worry about money. He was director of security of one of the nicest hotels in the French quarter. (He had been promoted.) Every once and a while, he still would do the hooker patrol at 3 in the morning. Things didn't change much in the quarter. It would always be an amusement park for adults. The finest food, Bars, and floor shows to be found anywhere. The best show was just to walk out on the street and watch. But the landscape was changing. Anyone who looked like they didn't belong in the clothing they were wearing, was a target of a hate crime. Gays and lesbians were having just as much trouble as the Gems.
Robert and Billie were doing just fine. The marriage license hadn't made any difference to them in the way they treated each other. On a rare day, Robert had come over and visited with us at the new "hotel" and Leslie grabbed the chance to talk.
"How you and Billie doing?"
"We are just fine, thanks. Leslie, you're not gay are you?"
"No, I'm not. I was just your typical transvestite."
"I was just wondering. I have always been gay. I am having just a little bit of trouble dealing with straight sex though."
"I have always had trouble with any sex. I just never was one to be hung up on it." Leslie said.
Robert shook his head. "It's new. You are right though, its not good to get too hung up on just sex. There is more to a marriage or partnership than just sex."
"Good, I am glad you feel that way. You and Billie will get along just fine."
"She is settling in now and I think you will get some help back in the next couple of days. She is ready to go back to work."
"I need the help. The world is getting crazy and too many people are trying to find Allen and Caroline. Too many things are happening for me just to handle it by myself."
"She will be in probably tomorrow."
Billie was in first thing in the morning. It had been a couple of weeks since the wedding. She was all smiles. If Leslie had not known her before, she would not have recognized her.
"You ready to jump into the snake pit?"
"Yes, lets get it going." Billie said. Leslie ran down all the working projects and all the summons that had come in for Dr. Gurber. Some required traveling out of town. They didn't allow money for travel.
"I am not giving these people a dime. If they want Allen, they will pay. If an attorney thinks they can use a sopina just to intimidate us, they are crazy."
"Good, I felt that way too. When they call wanting to talk to Dr. Gurber, I just tell them he is out of town. I have had cops come to the door wanting to search the place to be sure."
"All this in just the last couple of weeks?"
"Yes, I told you its crazy." Billie picked up the phone and called a phone number and just hung up the phone.
"Don't tell me he was wearing a pager all this time?"
"Yes, I was going to give you the number, but just decided to let it ride. If you knew how to get in touch with him, you might be compelled to tell. It is an old habit doctors have. They just keep a beeper on." In a few minutes, Allen called.
"I hope I haven't interrupted anything."
"No you didn't. What is going on Billie?"
"Poor Leslie is being harassed and threatened with contempt of court if she didn't tell some asshole lawyer where you were."
"You got to be kidding."
"No and the worst part is they are sending police to search for you here in the building."
"Ah come on, no one does that crap. There has to be a catch to this stuff."
"Yes, I think so too. But it looks legit."
"Do me a favor and call my attorney and fill him in. I think I will come back and get back in the sattle. Me and Caroline are getting a bit board and its time to go home. Tell Marilyn to get ready. Plan A."(I was coming in as Alice. It was a good idea to come in that way. If there was something not quite right, we could avoid any problems.)
"OK. See you when you get here."
Marilyn was right on the mark. She knew just seemed to know just what was going on and was ready. She had spotted a stakeout across the street.
"Who in the hell is after Allen to the point that they are doing this crap?" Marilyn mumbled. "This is not normal." She went to the back of the building and checked the little ally and there was someone there too.
"Bingo" she thought. "Some kind of feds. Has to be. No one else would go to the trouble that these people are going through." She came back into the office and closed the door.
"We have any new patients coming through?"
"NO, not until Allen gets back to review the cases."
"Good, because, we have a very unusual problem. I am convinced that we have been staked out by the feds. Get on the phone and beep the Doc. I have something worked out."
Allen was calling from a phone on the airplane.
"This had better be good."
"It is. Marilyn thinks we are being watched by the feds."
"What?" Marilyn got on the phone.
"Doc, I know these people. I can smell them. I have no idea what is going on but I tell you that the federal government is watching this building."
"What do we do?"
"Is Alice coming in with you?"
"Yes."
"Tell Caroline and Alice to come over and you stay at the airport. Then when the coast is clear, I will beep you and get you to come in. I will lead them on a little goose chase."
"OK." They hung up. Everyone just smiled. Allen's alter ego would come in very handy. But he would have to show up sooner or later. These people didn't play cat and mouse games very long. Billie and me were dying of curiosity as to why they were doing all this.
Alice and Caroline were coming in. They drove up to the door and unloaded the car. Nothing happened. Alice was convincing to say the least. Blue jeans and a City of New Orleans tea shirt. She looked real. Caroline didn't do anything unusual. She just was very casual. Marilyn didn't even go out to meet them.
Alice came in. "When is the attorney coming in?"
"He is waiting for the call. But it is going to tip them off."
"Let me change and then we will see what is going on. Time for the games to end." She picked up the phone and called the attorney and in the sweetest voice I have ever heard, she asked the attorney to come over and wait for Allen. He would be here in an hour. She hung up and went upstairs to change. 45 minutes later, Dr. Allen Gurber arrived in the suit and tie and seemed ready for anything.
"Girls, get your bags packed right now. Billie, both you and Leslie get ready. I think we are about to go out of town again and you are going with me. If its what I think it is, then I will need you. Get the out of town office ready." This meant that Allen was getting ready for politics.
If it was the feds, then they were watching very closely. And they had figured out that Doc had got past them. There was a knock on the door. Leslie went to answer it fully expecting the attorney. There was these two goons with a soepina. They barged in and started ordering me around.
"We have a search warrant that permits us to look for Dr. Allen Gurber on these premises."
"If you will wait just, everybody will be here in just a minute." "Our search warrant compels you to take us to him now."
"He will be here in a few minutes. Just cool your jets Jack. By the way, let me see your identification. It is my legal right to inspect your id's." The two begrudgingly produced the standard government id's. About that time, the attorney came to the door and I let him in too.
"I am Dr. Allen Gurber's attorney. Please let me see the instruments you wish to serve." The expressions of the two agents began to look nervous. I think we got the better of them. The attorney called Allen into the room.
"Dr. Gurber, these two men do not have the proper documents necessary to compel you to do anything. It is my advice to you not to give these two idiots the time of day." Out came a radio and after a strange string of communications, the phone rang and I answered it.
"Doc, its the White house."
"White house? Who wants to talk to me?"
"Doc, I think it's the President." The next few minutes went a little to fast for any of us to keep up with.
I hung up the phone and told the two agents that he would agree to go with them. But we would have to go too.
"We were not prepared to take the whole staff with us now."
"We can take care of that. Girls, we are going to the White house. By the way, we were ready. You will find that I have one of the best staffs in the country."
"A car pulled up and Marilyn was behind them in the "Hotel" van. A plane was waiting for us at the airport.
On the way to Washington, I told the crew what was going on.
"It looks like a very high member of the administration is dying and needs our little expertise."
"Who is it?"
"They won't say."
"Then what in the hell is going on with the skullduggery?"
"It is feared that if word of this gets out, then it would cause major problems for the President and first lady. They say it will be a very private matter."
"A family member?" Leslie asked.
"It looks that way. Can you imagine the political fall out if one of the White House staff or family became a Gem. There is enough hate crimes in the country that they would fear what would happen."
It would take several hours for us to get through the security checks and allowed in to the residence area of the White House. It wasn't the President that came out first. It was the first Lady. "Dr. Gurber?"
"Yes, and my personal staff." I introduced Leslie and Billie. Marilyn stayed down and talked to the security types for a while. I imagine she was having a blast right now. But any way, the First Lady asked us to call her Barbara.
"Dr. Gurber, I would rather talk to you alone if possible. I am not used to an audience for such a personal matter."
"Yes, Barbara, I understand. But Billie here and Leslie both sit in on patient briefings all the time. I think it is helpful to see the effects of the drug first hand. Your privacy is absolutely garenteed here. She seemed not to like Leslie. I could tell it. She seemed to like Billie. Everyone did.
"Dr. Gurber, both my husband and son have a congenital desease which leads to cancer of the bone marrow. Every other generation seems to get the stuff. My son is going to die in the next year. The doctors have given him all the usual treatments and some unusual treatments."
"I haven't heard a word about any of this in the news."
"We have kept it out of the news. It is our business anyway."
She walked over to Billie and asked "Are both of you patients?"
"Billie and Leslie both are."
"Barbara, we are used to doing a little demonstration. We have done this over a thousand times. Billie here cannot be embarrassed."
"Let me call in my son. Jack needs to see this too."
"Billie"
"Yes Doc?"
"Did you ever think you would be doing this for the "pres" and first lady?"
"I have to admit that I didn't."
"OK, nothing flashy."
"Too late Doc. I wore the special."
"Oh no."
"Don't worry Doc, I will do it tastefully."
In walked the President and his son. Barbara made the intro.'s and Billie started explaining her background. Every couple of minutes, She would remove a piece of clothing. I had no idea what the special was. But I was about to find out. It turned out to be the black lace corset with garters.
"Barbara, you have to understand that Billie here just got married and is having some fun with it."
"I can see that." Billie allowed the group to look at the intiment parts of her body and made the explanations. I heard a gulp. They turned and looked at Leslie.
"We understand that you are at almost 11 months into the program."
"Uh, yes I am."
"Would you be offended if we could take a look?"
"You have to understand that I have never done this before. I will do it, but I'm not as good as Billie yet. It might go faster if I am allowed to remove my clothing behind a door or something. Then you can look. (Most transvestites are extremely shy about showing their underwear. Leslie was no exception. She wore some pretty exotic stuff.)
"Please give me about 5 minutes."
"Sure" She removed the items she was shy about and came out with a towel covering herself. Billie had already gotten dressed and was fixing her hair.
Leslie was completely developed and fully formed outwardly. As usual with male to female transitions, She was very large breasted. The insides were still forming. She was not a small person. She am 5' 8 1/2" and 165 lbs. She was a 38 DD and had a good figure for someone her size. She got the same grill. It was not the most pleasant thing she ever went through. But She had the honor of doing it for the first time for the President and family. What an initiation! She went back and put her clothing on. She still wore some of the old things that she always did. So it took a few minutes for her to get back together. While Leslie was out of the room, the conversation came around to what was required for their son to be allowed into the program. Their son was married and had kids.
"You can bring your wife to New Orleans and stay in the Hotel. You will find that we are very well equipped to handle your needs. You will need to stay there for at least 6 months." I said, giving the standard speech. "If you wish, we can allow some of your security in there with you. But you have to follow our rules. We have very good reasons for what we do. You will need everything we give you to survive in the world as it is now. You will find that Marilyn is one of the best security people I know. She is the one who spotted your security people."
"Yes, my people reported that to me. She is very good."
"Physically, she can also take care of things when the time comes. Boy could I tell you some stories."
Billie and I were talking when Leslie came back.
"Well he meets the requirements and I think we will accept him in if we can get them to operate with our security and rules. The medical records would be forth coming. Allen wasn't about to change anything that worked for one patient. These folks wanted the best they could get. "Hey Doc, you going to let Tulane in on the deal."
"I will have to talk to them Monday. In the mean time, all of this is hush hush."
We spent the night in the White house guest quarters. It was going too fast, like a dream. But in the morning, we all packed up and got back to New Orleans. Marilyn had the biggest grin I think I have ever seen. She had gotten to go into the Security room at the White house and given a tour. I had this feeling that she would get some idea's as to how to improve security around the "Hotel". It had to be expensive.
Caroline's father was going to be a delicate situation. He had not been accepted into the program yet. Everyone was still talking about it. Leslie believed that Allen and Caroline would have a very difficult way to go. Caroline had never gotten involved in the care of a patient before, but that would change very quickly with her father in the program.
Robert Rodgers was in his 50's. He was about to retire from a big architectural firm. He built everything from bridges to sky scrapers. Money was not a problem for this man. But he was the classic macho type and being transformed into the very opposite of himself was objectionable. So there it was, the classic dilemma. Life as a woman or manhood and death. All of our male to female patients had this problem. (Or most anyway.) He had to make a decision soon. His own doctor didn't like the program for the physiological aspects of the change. But his patient was about to die.
Caroline's mother would end up making the decision for Robert. His life was important to her. So after some serious talk between the two, he finally agreed to take the drug. But he would not be caught dead in a dress. If he had to look like a dike, so be it. But the feminine thing was definitely not for him.
Now all of the things happening at once here was getting very scary. The President's son would be here in the morning to start the program. Caroline's father was getting ready to start the program. Allen and Caroline decided to have a pow wow. Everyone who worked for the Doctor and clinic were called into the meeting room of the "Hotel" and sat down.
"Is everyone here?" Allen asked.
"No, Marilyn is outside taking care of something so we can have the meeting."
"OK, we will fill her in later. People, we are rapidly coming to another crossroads. I don't know if Caroline and I can run this place by ourselves. Tulane medical might have to start staffing this place to help out. How would you feel if we had some interns running around here?"
"Doc", Leslie spoke up.
"As long as they didn't have a bad attitude or said ugly things to any of us, I wouldn't have a problem." After all, you will be going out into the world pretty soon. Might as well get used to it now."
"Yea, but why take it from someone who is supposed to be taking care of you?" Some one in the back spoke up.
"I can't control who they send to us, but if the president's son and others from his party are coming here, this will be a glory hole. Meaning everyone, including doctors, will be clamoring to get in here. I will have to supplement the security staff with Tulane people and that will cause problems to. So in another words, we will start to lose control."
"The animal studies are starting to get a bit out of control too." Caroline mumbled. "The Tulane involvement is maybe a good thing. But our name still has to be a part of it."
"What I am thinking about doing is expanding the program to a larger number and getting the medical school to assign interns on rotation to the "Hotel".
"Yea, they can call it Queen 101."
"OY Vey Billie."
"You have to admit it sounded good Doc."
"Yea, you're right. We will need our sense of humor around here. I am going to start reviewing the case load and we will run this place to the maximum number of beds we have.
"Leslie."
"Yes"
"You have one more month, don't you?"
"Yes I do."
"So far, you have filled in as Billie's assistant. How would you like to be permanent staff?"
"I would like it very much."
"Good, you are now the housemother and Operations chief. Billie, you will continue to be my exec assistant. Marilyn will be the Security chief. She will have people under her. Now, we will start operating this place like a real hotel. If we are going to provide a place to live for the people who have to live here, then we will start charging a rent and pro-rate for ability to pay."
Margaret and Claire were always kinda in the background. They had moved to New Orleans after the wedding. They still were overwhelmed by the massiveness of the events around them.
"Margaret and Claire." they looked up.
"You two will have review the cases and financial information. You two will be the main door for people to come into the program. I will retype up the guidelines and who is eligible. I am going to setup enough space to have 50 patients." (Seems that Margaret and Clare had moved to New Orleans with the rest of us. They were both Widowed and could.)
They had just installed the new computer system with the insurance software to bill those people automatically.
"We will have to limit guest rooms to patients and one family member. We have to maintain a level of privacy. But, we will need the beds. Marilyn will still have some space here because of her job. Any questions can be asked after the meeting is over. I will be in the office all day."
The hotel was going to change again. The old warehouse that was now the Hotel, was big enough to handle the animal and people studies. The Lab which I had set up was as good as anything at Tulane. So we were pretty well self contained. I had the job of renovating the unused part of the building and making bed space. I called every good construction guy in the quarter and found one who wouldn't be a problem for security. (He was gay.) So it had started.
Tulane staff had started to come by and look things over. One of the administrators came over and was looking Leslie over. Leslie knew it was going to be a problem. But she just let him "elevator eyes" her and kept her mouth shut. They wanted to take control of everything. It was obvious. So things were questioned. But we had one advantage. Our money and the hospital and schools money were not the same. Dr. Gurber financed the place. Not the school. As long as that was the case, then they would not have a lot to say about anything. But they were still going to try.
The Secret Service was driving Leslie and Billie crazy. They wanted to have quarters in the building and away from the other patients. I nixed that quick. Those beds were for patients. We finally made arrangements so that they could use some of the undeveloped space up top.
Leslie had to hire a cleaning staff and set up a kitchen. She was not going to let this get out of control. She decided to make it a communal type of eating arrangement. Everyone would have to come to the kitchen to eat. But no vending machines. If these people were paying to have place to live, then, they would be comfortable. Arrangements were made to have one person always present to run the kitchen. It sounded expensive. But it would save on food and spoilage. She was also going to make the government pay for the space they occupied. They would have food privileges. But she didn't think they wanted to eat with the other patients. They were the typical macho types and I guess we offended their man hood.
The time had gone by so quickly that Leslie had forgotten her one year anniversary. One of the staff downstairs had called me to the living quarters look at something. When I walked in, the door closed and I was surrounded by old friends. Even Mary was there. I couldn't believe it. There had to be 15 of them in the room.
"Leslie, you are about to be iniated into the sisterhood." Mary whispered. "We are very careful as to who we do this to."
"As you will soon see." Billie walked in and slipped off to the side.
"I'm late. Sorry."
"Please undress yourself."
"We know how you feel about what you wear and don't worry, there hasn't been one of us who hasn't done it too." I started to take her clothes off. The girls suddenly realized why I was funny about undressing. I was wearing a Gibson Girl corsett and some very elaborate garters and panties.
"Well, you made it a little easier for us."
"Leslie, you haven't been sexually active sense you started the program, have you?"
"No, I am a little shy about that."
"Well, a long time ago, we decided to start a little iniation to let completed patients like you feel the fullness of your womanhood. No men will be involved. We all have gone through . Because you once were a man, this will not be as hard. If you don't wish to go through with this, just say stop and we will leave you alone. But it is something we do for our friends to allow them to know how it feels without any risk. My dear, you can get pregnant!"
Out of a box came a 8" dildo. There was also some lubricant.
"You have never done this before, have you?"
"No, I was afraid too."
"Trust us, you can handle it." She looked at the thing.
"I had never really thought about this, But why not.
I took some of the lubricant and spread it over the area needed and slowly pushed the object into herself.
"Hey, this thing is cold."
"It won't be for long." I felt a shutter through me and things started to go kinda strange. As I pushed this thing into myself, every thing in my body had gone tinglely and electric. The wave was rolling over me and I was going rhythmic when all of a sudden, my body exploded with all kinds of feelings and emotions. I was moaning and started to scream. I just wilted into the chair there and almost fainted. I came to and the girls were still there.
"Now, no matter what else ever happens to you, you can say your first orgasm was with friends. There will be better. But this one is our little gift and your iniation into the sisterhood. Leslie, you are now a woman." They all left. Billie stayed.
She smiled and said, "It might be a good idea not to let that item be seen outside this room." The look on my face told Billie that I had a naughty idea. I took the little friend and re inserted it into myself. Then I just put the panties and underwear back on. I was just going to wear the thing so it was hidden in me.
Billie laughed and said, "Oh you whore, you are going to have some fun, I can see that now." Nothing was said at all by anyone about the little party. It would stay that way too. It was very private. By the way, She left the thing in all day. The smile on my face was something to behold. Billie just laughed every time she saw me smile.
"You gonna be a whore, I can see it now."
"No, I won't. To many deaseased out there. I just may get a bigger friend."
"What ever floats your boat girl."
In such a short notice, Leslie had turned a run down old warehouse building into a nice operation. We even had a shipping and receiving department. She had started buying food and supplies in larger quantities and needed a shipping and receiving clerk. She wasn't going to run out and just hire one off the street. To many girls out there needing work. So I checked the list (we kept a working list of everyone who came through here and their abilities) and sure enough, one of the new patients had experience with that kind of work. More and more, the patients, were allowed to work in the hotel as employees. It really helped with the expenses. The boredom factor was also reduced.
It had been a long time since the old community service days. We had enough work to keep everyone busy. The Presidents son, Jack and his wife, were the exception. They had a private phone and fax machine and in general a little office of their own. His business transactions kept him busy. He was running some kind of investment firm from the rooms upstairs. It was fine by us. I could care less. The only thing I cared about was the comfort of the patients here. But I had the feeling that the wife would go crazy up there cooped up. I also had the feeling that it wouldn't take long for them to start looking around their surroundings. The secret service was always checking out the individual patients in the Hotel. All I could do is laugh at the guys. I guess they were doing their jobs. I couldn't wait for them to attempt going into the French quarter.
You know I couldn't believe that the program I had started now was 5 years old today. There was a lot of water under the bridge. I had the feeling that the fun was just beginning. Who could guess where things would lead.