This story is stand-alone, but immediately follows "Remembering Molly," and uses the original character from that story in some parts. I've added a bit of recap, so if you haven't read the first story, you should still be able to read this one.

As is implied by 'fanfiction', the characters and settings from Sanctuary are not mine, although I appreciate being able to borrow them. The story is set roughly in mid-season three. The original characters, settings, and storylines, however, are my own, and I appreciate constructive criticism. I hope you enjoy!

"Ahh!" Will's exclamation was accompanied by the thwacking sound of his head striking the underside of the overhead luggage compartment as he stood up.

"I could have flown us down, you know." Magnus looked at him with a bit of reproach. "I haven't flown economy since… goodness knows how long. I think they were still providing white tablecloth meal service…"

Still rubbing the back of his head as he took the seat by the window, Will replied, "This is supposed to be a vacation, you know. If we'd taken the Sanctuary plane, chances are you'd have diverted us to investigate some exciting new abnormal fungus, or some such, by now… and it's really hard to argue with the pilot." He paused. "Beside, the other Heads take you for granted. If you're not completely inaccessible, there's no way you'll be able to relax!"

"You may have a point there…" Magnus paused to awkwardly shove her briefcase under the seat in front of her. "It has been a long time since I've had a real vacation."

There was some fumbling with the seat belt ends, "I think you're sitting on mine. Thanks. Oh, sorry about that. Oops, didn't mean to elbow you there…" until finally they were both firmed strapped in.

"I really think you could have splurged for business class, though." Magnus said.

"Hey, you asked me to take over the finances, and I have. Maybe if you had agreed to travel by yourself, we could have afforded it!"

"You all need a vacation as much as I do," Magnus replied, "It only seemed fair."

Will smiled a bit. "We really should have sent Henry and Kate to a different resort though, don't you think?" They were sitting a few rows in front of the pair, who, by the sounds of it, were already bickering about something or other.

"You do have a point… maybe it's not too late," she joked. "Perhaps somewhere in the vicinity of Devil's Island?"

Will's reply was cut off by the stewardess' cheery voice coming over the intercom, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! This is a non-stop flight to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. If Santo Domingo isn't your destination, now would be a good time to say something. Please turn your attention to…"

Magnus might have been joking on the plane, but several hours out from Santo Domingo, stuck with the three others plus a honeymooning couple in a moderately under air-conditioned van, she was just about ready to kick them all out. The road heading west was as she would have expected; narrow, winding, and barely two-way, it was crowded with overloaded vehicles, produce trucks, and mopeds. Her patience for the road conditions was long, however the combination of the fawning couple and the bickering 'children' in the back was too much.

At least she had been accorded a little respect, securing the front passenger seat with little difficulty. Rank hath its perks. She spoke to the driver, "Roberto, would it be possible to stop at one of the fruit stands?" They had passed many along the roadside after exiting the city, with locals selling bananas, plantains, mangos, and other locally grown produce. "I could use a little air."

"And a little quiet, I am guessing, doctor." He gave her a knowing smile. "I know just the place, it is not far."

They pulled off the road next to a small produce stand with a young boy, perhaps 10 years old, sitting next to it. "We are making a brief stop," Roberto announced to his passengers. "Please feel free to get out for a few minutes, but don't wander far."

Henry reached over to smack Will on the shoulder. "Hey Will, wake up!"

"Uuh?" Will started, and then straightened up in his seat, looking sleepily around.

"Pit stop. Get out if you want." Will closed his eyes, and for all intents and purposes, appeared asleep. "Suit yourself."

"Hello, Jose," Roberto spoke to the boy. As an aside to Magnus, "I know his father, so he'll overcharge you, but not too badly."

Magnus smiled. "Acceptable terms." She bartered and paid for a bag of mangos while the others stretched their legs a bit. The newlyweds asked Roberto about a washroom, and were slightly put off by his delicate suggestion of the best place for that kind of business. "I can wait," the woman declared.

Wandering back to the van, Magnus handed Henry and Kate a couple of mangos, with her own perhaps not so delicate suggestion regarding indoor voices in the vehicle. The rest of the trip was thankfully relatively serene. At last, they turned off the main highway onto a small dirt road leading steeply upwards to their final destination.

As they climbed out of the vehicle, the view was breathtaking – a wide open panorama from the hilltop across the surrounding jungle to where it met the Caribbean Sea. Magnus felt the residual tension from travelling leave her as she looked out to the water. The air was even a little cooler due to the altitude, although still warm and humid.

Walking into the hotel, the staff were professional and considerate. "Welcome, Dr. Magnus. If there is anything we can to help make your stay with us more pleasant, please do not hesitate to ask."

Back at the Sanctuary, the newest and the oldest staff members, left to themselves, were getting to know each other over a rather unusual activity…

"Paranormal Activity?" Molly was looking skeptical. "You watch Paranormal Activity? Do you really believe in this stuff?" Then, with a side glance at the Big Guy, "Wait, don't answer that. I don't really want to know."

It had been only a few days since Molly had accepted the offer of a job at the Sanctuary. Her nursing experience hadn't exactly prepared her for the job, but since being attacked by an abnormal, there was no going back to her normal life. She'd been given a small suite in the mansion, complete with a bedroom, combined office and sitting room, and a washroom. Apparently most staff lived at the Sanctuary, but she wasn't quite prepared to give up her apartment so soon. Not that she'd been there often in recent times, except to pick up the mail and water the plants.

The rest of the team was off for a much needed vacation. Such a public outing would have been difficult for the Big Guy to take, so he was the obvious candidate to run things while they were away. As for Molly, Magnus had vetoed her accompanying them. "I'm well aware that you could also use a vacation, she had said, "however given your recent illness, I think it would be prudent that you avoid travel for a little while longer, particularly to a less developed country." She did suggest that the time would be best spent slowly acclimating to the Sanctuary routine, and starting her studies on abnormalities in general. Which meant tagging along with the Big Guy on his rounds, and reading a large pile of tomes that were, at this moment, obscuring Molly's new desk.

Acclimating apparently also meant watching strange and freaky films… as if reality wasn't weird enough.

In the Dominican, the weather was fine. After a quick room change (to one that did not share a wall with the newlyweds), Magnus found the locale all together refreshing. She developed a routine over the first few days. She would rise early and relax with tea on her balcony overlooking the sea, then join her later-rising companions for a breakfast of crepes and fruit. After breakfast she relaxed poolside with a book for a little while, then struck out, sometimes with one or more of the others, to explore the trails in the surrounding hillside. She particularly enjoyed swimming through waterfalls in the nearby river, and walking along the pristine beaches. She socialized with the locals in town, trying a variety of the fresh seafood and produce, prior to hiking back to the hotel to enjoy a refreshing dessert and drinks at sunset. The hotel offered an array of personal pampering as well, and she indulged in an open-air manicure, pedicure, and marvelously relaxing massage. She couldn't help but admit that her team had been right, she needed this.

The next morning, following her customary tea, Magnus breakfasted with Will and Henry. While Kate had decided to sleep in, prior to a day of pampering herself poolside, the other three decided to spend the day hiking an ambitious route that led them further into the Sierra de Baoruco, the small nearby mountain range.

Armed with hiking boots and packs of water and sandwiches, they set out.

"This is amazing," Henry said, stopping yet again on a high point in the trail to admire the view. There was a light haze touching the treetops in the distant valleys, and the sun reflected brightly on the rivers in amongst the vegetation.

"It certainly is." Magnus stopped next to him and reached around to pull a bottle of water from her pack.

They enjoyed the natural sights and sounds, until they were interrupted by small rocks being disturbed by heavy footsteps, and some slightly winded breathing.

"I thought you were in better shape than this, Will." Magnus greeted him as he crested the trail.

"Me. Too." Will replied, wiping his drenched forehead on his sleeve before gratefully accepting the proffered water and taking a long swig. "Ah. Guess I've been more of a desk jockey lately."

"That's what happens when you get behind in paperwork… but let's not think about that." She checked her watch. "The map shows a waterfall not too much further along, might be a good place to eat. We should be able to make it that far before needing to head back." She looked at Will. "You up for it?"

"No problem," he said, huffing back into his pack.

Magnus and Henry exchanged a small smile before falling into line to continue up the trail.

The hike was certainly worth it. Quiet, isolated, and lush, the area around the waterfall was an ideal setting for a picnic. The group hungrily tore into their sandwiches, as the sound of the waterfall muted the surrounding environs. After eating, Henry opted for a nap in the shade, while Magnus and Will decided swimming was the next order of business. They swam in a large pool at the base of the waterfall, luxuriating in the cool, pristine waters.

Magnus dove deep into the clear water, opening her eyes as she stroked down towards the bottom. Small brightly-coloured fish swam by – agonostomus monticola, cyprinodon bondi, a juvenile cichla ocellaris… her subconscious cataloguing paused as she observed a flash of blue from the bottom. With no air left to investigate, she popped back up to the surface, inhaling after breaking the water.

"Thought you were going to stay down there forever," she heard Will say from nearby as she wiped water from her face.

"I think I've found something interesting," she replied, treading water.

"Oh?"

"Be right back," Magnus gave him a quirky smile before taking a deep breath and diving back under. Heading directly down, she found the bottom and her quarry, grabbing a handful, then widening her fingers to remove the loose sediment. She held it in both hands and kicked back to the surface.

Will swam over to meet her. "Whatcha got there?"

Blinking to clear the water from her eyes, Magnus opened her hands to reveal several small, brilliant blue stones.

"Wow."

"Amazing, aren't they?" She rinsed the remaining dirt away from the stones.

"The blue is just… wow." Will reached out and took one from her hands.

"It's larimar – a pectolite found only in the Dominican. Shouldn't be too surprised I suppose, the largest mine is barely twenty kilometers from here," Magnus replied.

"They're so smooth," Will rubbed the stone between his fingers. "The river must act as a natural tumbler, polishing it as it moves downstream."

Magnus smiled at Will's obvious infatuation with the stone. "Certainly. You can have that one if you like, I've got a couple others."

He took his eyes away from the larimar. "That's okay," he said, handing back the stone. "I think I can manage the energy for a dive of my own."

"Suit yourself, I'm going to go have a nap myself." She swam back to shore as Will made a rather ungraceful dive, complete with a large splash as he kicked his feet at the surface of the water.

Having dried off and sprawled next to Henry, Magnus drifted off to sleep to the sound of the waterfall.

A short while later, she awoke abruptly and sat up, not sure what had caused her to wake. Henry was still snoring softly next to her. She looked towards the waterfall and saw Will in the distance, sitting on the far side with his back to her.

Walking towards the pool, she called, "Will?"

When he didn't look up, she called again, "Will!" but the waterfall covered her words. Something about his posture made her feel that something was not right. She stripped off her outer layers and dove back into the pool, swimming directly across towards him. As she pulled herself out of the water, he finally noticed and slowly turned towards her, blood across his bare chest.