So here it is, chapter 2. It would have been up earlier but because I was up late watching Empire Strikes Back, I feel asleep at my comp. I apologize. Then this morning the internet was jacked up and not allowing me to upload the document and its has been hell.

This chapter was difficult to write. I'm not sure if it is because I hate writing crap that sets the stage for the main events or if it had to do with my sinus headache. Anyways, I did my best.... :|

You know the drill: In your reviews, make corrections, compliments, and constructive criticism. Thanks a bunch!!!

After Desmond helped Shaun lift himself inside the back seat of their SUV, he pushed the wheelchair back inside the hospital. Some of the nurses ran out of the way afraid that Desmond would run around the lobby like an idiot again with the wheelchair.

"Desmond, you can ride shotgun. I'll hang in the back seat with Shaun," Rebecca informed Desmond as he walked back to the truck.

"Don't get carried away back there!" Desmond responded as he joined Lucy in the front seat.

Rebecca sighed in annoyance. "Would you just drop that already? It's not like me and Shaun had sex in the hospital. That's just messed up."

There was a dead silence between Lucy and Desmond that spread through the entire truck.

"I'd prefer it if we just got on our way instead of talking about who is having sex with who. Is that OK?" Shaun asked irritated by the delay.

"Yeah," Lucy squawked in response.

"What an awkward trip this is going to be," Desmond thought.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They had been on the road for a good five hours when they finally stopped to refuel.

Desmond offered to gas up the truck while Lucy got some refreshments and snacks for the group.

Lucy poked her head back inside the cab after she hopped out. "You want anything Shaun. I know it's just convenient store crap but…"

"Just get me a bag of Hot Cheetos, a Twix, some beef jerkey, and a bottle of Fiji water," Shaun interrupted.

Rebecca was baffled by his request. "All that junk food and you want Fiji water to wash it down?"

"Or a bottle of Coke is fine, too," Shaun retorted.

"I'll get the water…" Lucy said as she backed away from the cab. As she walked towards the store, she could hear muffled arguing coming from the truck. She turned around for a quick glance and saw Desmond shaking his head as he leaned up against the truck.

Lucy just smiled as she opened the entrance to the convenient store.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Within two days, they arrived at the safe house.

"Well, here it is," Lucy exclaimed.

As Desmond guessed, it was a house located somewhere on a secluded farm.

"It's nice and homey," Rebecca commented. She was relieved she wasn't stuck in another warehouse. A small house would be a wonderful change of accommodation for a change.

"Yeah, well that's fine and dandy and all, but can someone please help me out of this bloody truck?" Shaun pleaded. "My ass is starting to cramp from the lack of cushion in this blasted seat."

"We can get you a donut cushion to put in your chair if that would make you feel any better," Desmond teased as he climbed out of the truck.

"Actually, that is not a bad idea," Shaun replied after thinking about the suggestion.

"Let's get your chair out before we lift you out," Lucy butted in.

Lucy unloaded the chair using the system Lisa had some assistants install and brought it over next to Shaun. "Ready?"

"Damn straight!"

All three of them helped lower Shaun into his new chair with which he already started to fall in love.

Shaun patted his lap and asked Rebecca if she wanted a ride inside.

As she gently set herself on his lap, Lucy face writhed in disgust. "Oh God, I can't watch this any more! Come on Desmond, help me unload the trailer."

"No problem, Lucy" Desmond answered, relieved.

Desmond was still at the back of the trailer when Lucy came back to grab something else. His face was against the inside of the trailer door and he was mumbling something in Arabic.

"Desmond, are you alright?" Lucy asked. She stood at his side and pushed his shoulder so he would turn and face her. "Oh my God!!"

His eyes were a foggy white and were glazed over. Through all of the Arabic he was speaking, the only thing she understood was 'My name is Altair.'

"Desmond! It's Lucy! Snap out of it! You aren't Altair; you're Desmond! Come on, come back to me!" Lucy pleaded. It was as if he didn't even hear her. "Damnit!" Hesitantly, she drew her hand back and forcefully slapped Desmond's face.

He fell backwards into the trailer which shocked Lucy. She never knew she could slap someone that hard.

Desmond sat up with a look of shock on his face. "What the hell did I do?"

"Oh thank God," Lucy sighed.

"What? Why the hell did you slap me?" he demanded.

Lucy raised one of her eyebrows. "You mean you don't know?"

"No. I was just standing here about to pick up the last two duffle bags ah-a-a-and you slapped me!"

"You were mumbling something in Arabic and your eyes were hazy and white. You were saying that you were Altair and the only think I thought to do was slap you. It worked last time!" Lucy explained as she helped Desmond up.

"I don't remember saying any of that. Oh God, you don't think I'm losing it do you?" he asked. The past few times he had one of his companions in his mind take over, he was at least aware of it and could fight back. But this time was different and he was now beginning to panic.

"Of course not. Why don't you go inside and sit down. I'll finish unpacking and then we can hook you up to the monitors and check your brain activity. Maybe that can tell us something."

"What do I tell Shaun and Rebecca?" Desmond asked. He honestly sounded fearful for his life which was a heavy blow to Lucy's heart. She couldn't bear to see him appear like a helpless child because it made her feel powerless to help him.

"Nothing. I'll tell them when I get back inside. Just sit down." Lucy kissed him gently on the lips.

Desmond nodded and made his way for the entrance. "Come guys, this isn't the time to be experimenting with my mind!" he whispered to his ancestors.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Your vitals are fine Desmond, but your brain activity is going haywire. Are you sure you don't feel any pain? No headaches?" Rebecca asked.

"None. What do you mean haywire?" Desmond answered.

"Well you see these squiggly lines?" Rebecca paused and then continued after Desmond nodded. "They are abnormally…squiggly…which usually indicates the person being monitored is in heavy thought. Most of the time, they are in deep sleep or having a nightmare. Do you see where I am going with this?"

"Yeah, but I haven't been in 'heavy thought' as you put it and I'm definitely not asleep, although this is a lot like a nightmare." Desmond stated coldly.

Shaun wheeled himself in with the touch of the joystick on the right arm rest. "Did we ever check his brain activity back at the warehouse?" he asked.

"No. What are you getting at?" Lucy inquired.

Shaun pushed up his glasses with his index finger as he prepared to explain. "He has three other men, other minds, living inside his head. Maybe that is the reason for the extra activity. It's just a thought."

"So what does that mean?" Desmond asked impatiently.

"It would appear that even though you are in control over your mind, Altair, Ezio, and 16 are able to think for themselves. This doesn't affect you or your actions, but it would explain these readings. The last time 16 took over, you said it was as if Altair and Ezio were working together to subdue him, correct?"

"Yeah."

"Then my theory is accurate. For 16 to be able to want and actually control your actions and then for the others to restrain him, that is pure independence," Shaun continued.

"But what does that have to do with what just happened?" Desmond was thankful for Shaun's knowledge and explanation, but it didn't help him feel any better.

"The best answer I can come up with is that you are like a record player. For whatever reason, you were looping some possible memory of Altair's subconsciously." Even though he didn't show it, Shaun was starting to fear for Desmond's well being as well.

"Shit!" Lucy exclaimed as she emerged from deep thought.

"What is it?" Rebecca probed.

"I can't believe I forgot about this. Back when 16 was at Abstergo, the same thing happened to him. It was when he first started merging his memories with reality." Lucy looked at Desmond who had a look of terror on his face. "His situation was far more advanced than yours, Desmond. Slapping him never brought him back to reality. Vidic literally had to torture him, make him feel unbearable pain, to snap him out of it."

"That is why 16 is so fucked up," Desmond thought to himself. "So what do we do?" he asked.

Lucy hated the answer but swore she would be completely honest with Desmond. She wouldn't break a promise, especially one to him. "There is nothing we can do. Even the best doctors at Abstergo couldn't help 16. I hate to sound so damn negative…"

"There may be something we can do." Shaun offered.

"What?" Lucy, Desmond, and Rebecca asked in unison.

"I can spend some time with Desmond and help him perfect his ability to access memories. We can all agree that that is the cause of this new problem. Edward had some research on a flash drive that was in his briefcase about 16 that may assist us. It's the best solution we have," Shaun explained.

"If you think it will help," Desmond shrugged. "I'm up for anything at this point."

Shaun nodded and turned his chair to face the hall that led to the bedrooms. "Then we will start tomorrow if that's OK with you."

"Yeah," Desmond answered.

"Alright, well we should all go to bed. After that trip and with all of this, we all could use some sleep," Rebecca said. She wanted to help Desmond as much as she could, but right now, she was too tired.

"That sounds like a good idea," Lucy agreed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Desmond was flat on his back, asleep. Sweat was practically pouring from every sweat gland on his body. What started as gentle stirring in his sleep turned into mild thrashing. Moans started resonating in his throat as he tossed and turned. Suddenly, he woke from his sleep and quickly sat up. His breaths were heavy and his muscles ached.

Lucy pulled the sheet up to cover her bare chest as she sat up next to him. "Are you alright?"

He let out a heavy sigh before he answered. "Yeah. Just a bad dream."

"You wanna talk about it?" Lucy asked as she placed her right hand on his left shoulder and then rested her chin on her hand.

"No…I…What if it gets worse and I end up like 16?"

"That's not going to happen," she reassured him.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I won't let it. We will take care of you. And if that vision Altair had is real…you won't end up like him. You can't." Lucy could see the tears that were starting to fall down Desmond's face.

"But I don't want to become some cold blooded, cold hearted Assassin. I'm afraid I'd lose you," he confessed.

"You won't. I told you once before that I'll always be here for you. Nothing has or ever will change."

Desmond nodded his head as he tried to fight back more tears. He plopped his head back on his pillow and Lucy followed his example. He scooted over closer to her and placed his head on her right shoulder and wrapped his right arm around her.

"It will be OK Desmond, I promise."

He lifted his head so his eyes were above hers. Their lips met for a few moments and then Desmond placed his head back on her shoulder.

"Goodnight, Luce."

"Night, Dez."

I am also taking any ideas you have for this story. I am only writing it because so many people wanted me to continue, so throw me your ideas. If I can make them work, I will be more than happy to do it!!

Happy New Year everyone!

2009 was great, and I'm sorry this chapter is late!!

(Like my little rhyme there?? teehee)