Jesse.
My heart all but stopped with joy as I heard a familiar voice ring through Sanctuary,
"Jesse? Jeeeessssseeee? I flew out of bed and threw down my book. Shal was back. I ran out of my bedroom to find her standing with an
enormous grin on her face. I ran to her and she leapt at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I lifted her off the ground as I squeezed her
tight in a hug; I heard the tinkle of Emma's laugh and laughed in reply. I put Shal back down and sobered.
"Shal, Emma we have-"
"We know – Emma" my face went slack,
"You could tell about Brennan from Nicaragua?" I could nearly see her face heat as she replied,
"Well, Y'know, I have a deep connection with you guys…besides, Nicaragua isn't that far away" I smiled at her; we all knew she was more
powerful than she let on.
"Well can you talk to him…I just, I don't know what to do, he's covering it up, I know he's still in pain but he's just hiding it, nearly pretending it
didn't happen" Emma turned serious and looked down, averting her gaze.
"I know, I can feel that too. I had to suppress my powers when we got within a mile of Sanctuary. I couldn't take it. All I can feel from him is this
massive back hole" Emma's voice became thick as she clearly grew distressed just from the memory "I'm a Telempath, I know emotion, better than
anyone and…oh god, before now I never realised a body could hold that much pain. If you could feel it you'd know, I'm scared he'll fall apart or
explode from what's inside him. He needs something, someone to hold onto or he'll fall. Crash and burn, I can tell that much" Shal put an arm
around Emma and lifted her chin, her pack instinct kicking in, her need to defend her family, I loved her for her dedication to those she loved,
"Don't worry Jesse, I'll talk to him" I breathed the sigh of relief I hadn't realised I'd been holding onto ever since I'd found Brennan on the kitchen
floor.
Brennan.
I lay on the floor of the garden, surrounded by plants. I was on my side, letting the cold stone comfortably leech the heat from my skin. I let the
silence envelop me as I read my book, yes I read, try not to faint. I was hiding in the garden because I knew the others were back and facing
them was more than I could bear. I just couldn't be around them, Jesse was the only one I could trust, he had helped me…when there was no-
one else Jesse had been there for me. Been strong, held me. I jumped at a slight rustle from a bushy fern. I closed my book and slid it away from
me, tensing my muscles. Shalimar emerged from behind the fronds of the plant.
"Brennan?" her eyes lit on me and I felt fire seep into my veins, forcing my muscles to bunch even further. "Hey Bren" she slid closer to kneel next
to me and I shuffled further away from her. I saw worry crease her eyes and a tentative smile creeped onto her lips. My eyes widened and I felt
my pupils dilate,
"Stay away Shalimar" she scooted even closer and I began to panic
"Come on Bren, I'm-"
"I said back off" I yelled and jumped to my feet. She did the same, both of our instincts into overdrive. Adrenaline speared through my body, I bent
my knees and readied to run. Shalimar reached out to touch my arm and I screamed out,
"Don't you touch me. Don't you ever touch me. Not ever." Power rippled through my legs as I sprang away from her. Racing through Sanctuary I
heard Shalimar's footsteps tapping with an ominous lightness behind me. She drew closer and reached out to grab me. Dizziness whirled through
me as I felt her touch on my shoulder,
"Bren" I panicked, feeling sick and I span on my foot, whipping a fist around to dislodge my attacker and the dusty scent of gravel, mixed with the
copper stink of blood shot through my nose. Another's face swam in front of Shalimar's as she ducked under my flying fist, his face. All I saw was a
snatch of Emma, and orb of her power flying at me before I blacked out and hit the floor. I didn't want to sleep. I didn't want to.