Author's Note:the Discovery Channel just had a programme about amazing things the human brain can do (I shoulda recorded it!), and one of the entries looked particularly promising: adrenaline junkies. eg

Title:Arda and Shawn.

Author:Rodlox.

Pairing:Shawn/Other (faint).

Summary:Shawn tries keeping up with his ward.

Disclaimer:I own none of the characters (with the exception of Arda, whom I based on a scene I came across in the 4400 vid 'Elevation').

"Sorry, sorry," Shawn dashed off the apologetic words as he ran past the rollerskaters who'd taken a tumble when they'd moved to avoid running into the human bullet that was Arda, "sorry." Up ahead the park came to a sharp end as two busy streets marked the start of a commercial district. And Arda didn't look like she was slowing down for hell, high water, or afternoon rush hour traffic. "Damnit," Shawn muttered to himself, hoping his fellow musician had a sense of self-preservation. Shawn could still hear Jordan's words: I was wondering if you'd mind keeping an eye on Arda for a few hours, even as the mogul had known full well that Shawn and Arda had been playing guitar together a lot over the last week. She's just as important to the future as you, Shawn, so I know I can count on you.

Fleet of foot, seeming to skim across the asphalt behind one car and right in front of another and - stopped just in time to avoid being hit. Even through all the honking at her, she turns her head around and looks back at him, her wicked grin daring him to follow her across, and she turns away to finish her jaunt across the street, much to the ire of the commuters. Only through good fortune or a minor miracle was a traffic accident avoided. And she was laughing; more from exhileration than mockery or anything else, maybe from humour too, maybe, though Shawn doubted it: What the hell is so funny?

Shawn waited for the lights to change before he crossed that street with the normal pedestrians, seeing that Arda was still waiting for him, her laugh being as close to music as a cackle could manage. Funny, Jordan, real funny. Once he was across without incident, he raised a hand to her, not to smack her or threaten, but just to emphasize, "Don't...Just...Do me a favor, okay? Don't do that again." Please.

Arda looked up into his eyes, leaned up on tiptoe to steal a kiss, and said when she was flat on her soles, "Okay," cheerily. Its not what I trained for, back in north Ireland, but he'll do. Wrapping her hand around his, she tugged him along the storefronts, "If we hurry, we can make it in time for a show."

He tried to remember what ballets or art expos were in town, and found he couldn't think of any. "Who's showing?" Shawn asked, not objecting to being led around, though he did hope she didn't pull with any more force than she was using at present.

Stealing a glance back at him as she tugged him along, "The Blue Devils're in town. I haven't missed a game since I got out of quarantine, and no way I'm going to start now."

Aigneis Ardala O'Nally,

Disappeared 11 October 1981

the end.