Vin cautiously poked his head out the door and checked the corridors that stretched to either side of his room. He thought about using his Sentinel hearing to listen for nurses and doctors but decided not to risk it. The dials were firmly locked down at a normal level and that was exactly where they were going to stay. Lying in the hospital bed for over a week had given him plenty of time to think about his situation and last night he'd made his decision. He'd spent enough time with Ezra and the adult Sentinels and Guides to know that his Bonding with Standish had been one huge mistake. 'Hell, me being a Sentinel has got to be some kind of freak accident. Freak; yeah that's me alright. Whoever heard of a retarded, street rat Sentinel? And Bonded to some kind of rich-kid super Guide? What's up with that?'

With a pair of brand new sneakers clutched in his left hand, Vin eased out into the deserted hallway and made a near silent dash for the stairwell. He'd learned a lot about Sentinels and Guides and Clans over the last few days; first hand knowledge replacing the rumors and tall tales that most believed to be fact. And the more he learned the more convinced he became that the sooner he got back to the streets, the happier everyone would be. Everyone but him but hey, so what else was new?

Larabee would go back to Denver with his men and Ellison and Sandburg could get back to running their Clan and busting Cascade bad guys. And Standish would be relieved to get back to that fancy school he was always yammering about with all his high class Guide friends. Vin sat down on the top step and quickly laced his shoes. He was a little out of breath but other than that he felt fine; better than he had in a long, long time. He sort of hated sneaking away without telling everyone 'thanks' for fixing him up but he figured they'd understand. 'Heck, Larabee even gave me a twenty dollar bill the other day; he must've known I was going to be hitting the streets again soon. Probably wonders why I hadn't done it before now.'

Taking a deep breath, he stood up and began making his way slowly and quietly down the several flights of stairs. 'And that medic Guide, Nathan, the way he kept lecturing me about staying dry and warm and drinking plenty of fluids, he sure must have known I wouldn't be staying.' Still, it had been fun when that other Guide, JD had brought the video games. And Buck was by far the friendliest, most easy going Sentinel of all the ones he'd met. Those two he would definitely miss. Being honest with himself, he was going to miss all the Sentinels and Guides that had taken the time to work with him; even Larabee who seemed to spend most of his time just standing around glaring and growling at anyone who came near him. And, yes, he'd miss Ezra too. Even though just thinking about the uppity, know it all teenager set his teeth grinding. But... at the same time, he felt... something... Concern? Comfort? Faint echoes of that first night, when he'd felt drawn to protect a Guide in danger.

But Ezra had made it plain that he didn't need or want protecting. At least, not by a homeless, 14 year old Sentinel. The few times that Vin had actually used his senses around the Guide and picked up on an empty stomach or headache, Ezra had reacted like a scalded tom cat. Really seemed like if it weren't for the whole 'shield' thing, Ezra wouldn't have bothered stopping by the hospital at all. Big change from that first night. 'Yeah, he cares alright. Just enough to make sure I can block the emotions for him when his shields need recharging. However that's supposed to work.'

Exiting from the stairwell to the hospital lobby, Vin was relieved to find the place totally deserted. The big clock on the wall showed that it was still a quarter to six in the morning which no doubt explained the absence of visitors and staff. Clear glass revealed a gloomy morning waiting just beyond the doors and Vin hesitated just outside the range of the sensor that would make them slide open. Just one more step and he'd be right back on the street. Right back where he belonged. Alone again. 'Ah, just suck it up Tanner and get on with it. You know it's either this or juvie.' Lifting his chin and taking a deep breath, the street hardened teenager stepped forward only to be brought up short by a large hand landing on his shoulder.

"Gyaah!" Vin's startled shout echoed in the lobby as he jerked sideways and spun to see who had snuck up behind him. "Fuckinhell!"

It was Eric, the tall, silent Guide of the short Sentinel doctor that had been in his face and on his case ever since he'd woken up.

"Geeze, you scared the shit out of me." Vin's mind raced as he tried to come up with reason for being in the lobby at the crack of dawn. Why did it have to be a Guide he knew that had caught him? "I, ah…." Vin squinted as the lights seemed to grow suddenly brighter. "Uh…I ... ah…" And suddenly he could hear the hum of the florescence and the dull roar of the ventilation and the grind of the elevators and phones ringing somewhere and the light was getting even brighter and it felt like his skin was crawling with ants and ... "Shit! What's that smell?"

Gagging, eyes squeezed tightly shut and hands over his ears, Vin dropped to his knees and curled into a tight ball of misery. Eric's hand on his back was a thousand tiny needles, each one dipped in acid. He wanted to scream but the only sound to escape past his gritted teeth was a pathetic whimper. A whimper that was drowned out in a pounding roar that grew until he was sure the whole building was about to collapse on top of him and he prayed that it would happen soon and put an end to his misery.

"Dang. I knew I was going to regret not replacing my phone when the camera broke on it. Someone has got to take a picture of this."

Josiah snorted and shook his head. "I would hope, my brother that you would place more value on your life than that."

Buck grinned and ran a thumb across his mustache. "Josiah, there are some things that are just naturally worth the risk. And this 'Kodak moment' is definitely one of those things."

The image that Buck so dearly wanted to capture, despite the danger to life and limb, featured none other than his boss Chris Larabee. What made this particular moment so appealing was the fact that he was lying asleep in an extra large hospital bed, curled up with Ezra Standish and Vin Tanner. The teenage Sentinel was sandwiched in the middle with his Guide's arm wrapped around his waist. Chris in turn had one arm draped over both boys and they were all snuggled up as close as peas in a pod. The one detraction from the peaceful scene was the washed out complexion of Vin's face and lines of pain that creased his forehead even in sleep.

Dr. Hanson frowned as she stepped through the door into the crowded hospital room. Besides Buck and Josiah and their two Guides there were also Jim, Blair, David and Taylor. And all of them were staring at the bed in the center of the room. Stepping to the side, she spoke to the Shaman and Sentinel waiting in the hall. "Gentleman, if you'll give me just a moment I'll clear the room so that you can actually see our patients."

Miyazaki gave a slight bow to those gathered before easing his way to the bed. "No need Doctor. I can assure you that the auras present are all very soothing and supportive." He paused by JD and eyed the young man critically for a moment before placing the palm of his right hand against his forehead. The young ATF officer closed his eyes and then suddenly sagged back into the arms of his Sentinel.

"Hey! What?!" Buck eased his unconscious Guide to the floor. "What the hell did you…?!"

"Calm yourself Sentinel; he will wake shortly." The elderly Shaman followed the pair to the floor and placed his hand once more on JD's forehead. "He came in contact with the Screamer, yes? His channels have mostly healed but there was … scarring, if you will. In time it would have faded but his shielding would have been weakened in the interim. In your line of work I thought it best to complete the healing process now. See? Already he wakes."

"Hmmm?" JD's dark brown eyes blinked open and he smiled as he gazed up into the concerned eyes of his Sentinel. "Hey Buck; what's up?"

"Not you, that's for sure. How do you feel?"

The young man pursed his lips and bowed his back in a good stretch as he seriously considered the question. "Actually, I feel great! It's like waking up after a really long nap on the couch."

Miyazaki moved back to allow the two men to stand. "I think you will find this a very good time to renew your Bond. I'm sure Dr. Hanson can provide you with a room close by?"

"Of course, right this way gentlemen." The Sentinel doctor held the door open for the Bonded pair as she looked around the room. "We have several Bonding suites available for anyone that needs them…." The broad hint was ignored by the remaining Sentinels and Guides who returned their focus to the sleeping trio. "Well, it was worth a try anyway."

Buck paused just outside the door for one more look. "Dang, if only I'd had a camera…"

"Oh geez, would you give it a rest already?" JD unclipped his phone from his belt and quickly used it to snap three pictures of Chris and the teenagers as they lay sleeping. "There, I'll send them to your phone after we Bond."

"That's my good little Guide, always looking out for your old Sentinel." Wilmington threw an arm across JD's shoulders as they followed Eric down the hall. "Better yet, can you just put'em on my computer? And maybe print out some nice looking five by sevens? Oh, how about one poster size? Can you do a t-shirt transfer? Or how about…"

Josiah shook his head sadly. "There goes a walking dead man. He and Chris may have been friends since high school but if Chris ever sees those pictures or even gets a hint that they exist…"

The Japanese Shaman waved one hand dismissively as he leaned over the bed. "The pictures will not turn out. All digital cameras have a habit of malfunctioning whenever I am nearby."

Blair stepped closer, fairly vibrating with curiosity. "Really? That is so amazing. And that thing you did with JD? Oh man, you have got to teach me how to do that. I mean, I was able to follow you most of the way but when you simply melted through his shields I couldn't quite …"

"Stop!" Miyazaki stared at the Senior Guide Prime with a look akin to horror on his face. "You followed me?!"

"Well….uh…yeah. I mean only until you got past his shields." Blair's sense of self preservation was never strong enough to withstand his curiosity and it naturally chose that moment to simply pack it in as a lost cause. "That was incredible! Your power sieved right through his shields like they were made of cheesecloth. I think I understand how you did it but I would need to practice…"

"That is enough." Miyazaki looked over to where Ellison stood leaning against a wall with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "Sentinel, if you truly value your Guide you will take him from this room now."

"What?!" Blair backed away from Jim who began moving the instant Miyazaki finished speaking. "Now wait a minute…"

The old Shaman turned back to the bed as strong arms wrapped around Blair's chest and lifted him from the floor. "You are like a hyper active child protégée. Bond with your Sentinel now and I will speak with you both later."

"Jim, c'mon man, put me down! Jim? You can't be seriously thinking about….. Oh no you don't!…..JIM!"

Dr. Hanson closed the door firmly behind the Senior pair with a smug grin. "I have to say, I like your style."

Toshio nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, he does have a knack for clearing a room."

"Hmmph. The rest of you may stay but please remain quiet while I work."

From all outward appearances, all that the 'work' entailed was standing with his right hand hovering over first one sleeper's head and then another. At one point Vin stirred restlessly and without waking, both Ezra and Chris each tightened their holds on him. Miyazaki lingered longest over the young Sentinel and when he finally stepped away from the bed his dark eyes flashed with anger.

"Now, I have questions about this morning. First of all, where was Standish when his Sentinel was spiking?"

"He was at his dorm asleep." David answered quickly even as he rubbed nervously at his arms. He was not as sensitive to Shaman powers as Blair but he had definitely felt something while Miyazaki worked. "Apparently he woke the moment Vin started spiking. The Sentinel guards on the campus picked him up trying to get out the main gate while still in his pajamas. They brought him straight here."

"And Larabee?"

This time it was Nathan who answered. "He woke us all up at the hotel cussing about 'nagging spirit nags' and 'guide dog food'. From what I've heard it sounds like he reacted at the same time as Ezra."

Miyazaki closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. His eyes opened again as he released the air through his mouth. "And having the young, newly Bonded Sentinel here, alone, made sense to all of you because…?"

No one could answer the Shaman or even hold his gaze.

"I see. Well, perhaps I can answer my own question. Feel free to correct me if I get something wrong." Miyazaki clasped his hands behind his back and stared at a spot just above everyone's head as he began outlining the cause of Vin's sudden, near fatal sensory spike.

"None of you have ever encountered nor even heard of a Sentinel and Guide Bonding while still teenagers. While Sentinels may begin showing some signs of enhanced senses they do not go fully on line until they enter their late teens, with spikes and Zones occurring very rarely and lasting only a few seconds. As they grow older the strength of their senses increases thereby making it necessary to Bond with a Guide. And Guides are not physically capable of Bonding with Sentinels until at least their early twenties. Am I correct so far? Yes? Good then I will continue. So, based on these facts presented we all know that teenagers cannot Bond. And of course two Sentinels cannot Bond with the same Guide nor share a link with each other. Therefore we can only conclude that there is no real Bond between these three on the bed and there is no reason they should be together now."

The silence in the room lasted for well over a minute before David hesitantly spoke up. "But, they are Bonded. I mean, Ezra and Chris both knew when Vin was spiking this morning."

Miyazaki continued to stare at a spot near the ceiling. "No. They are not Bonded. They cannot be. I have given you all the reasons why they cannot be linked."

This time it was Nathan who lost his patience and he went so far as to point his finger at the sleeping trio. "Now look, I don't know what your scan showed you but from everything I've seen and felt those three have a real Bond!"

The Shaman finally met the angry glares directed his way and lifted an eyebrow in obvious puzzlement. "You both sound so sure. Tell me Dr. Hanson, what is your assessment of their condition?"

Clearing her throat, the female Sentinel spoke slowly and thoughtfully. "While it is true that there are no records of teenagers Bonding before now, I have no choice but to believe that these two boys are Bonded as Sentinel and Guide and that it is actually a very strong Bond. I must also admit to the possibility of Mr. Larabee having some type of connection with the boys although at this time I could not, positively say that it was a Bond."

Miyazaki closed his eyes and pursed his lips as he considered the doctor's words. "And yet, despite all of this; despite the gut feelings and clinical observations that they are in fact Bonded," Dark eyes flashed open and pierced the listeners with laser intensity, "DESPITE the FACT that they ARE Bonded, they are not treated as a newly Bonded pair. The newly on line Guide sleeps apart from his newly on line Sentinel? And not just in different rooms but in different parts of the city? And the same goes for this third member of the Bond, who continues to reject the truth though it sings in his blood? And not only this, not only this but the training of the Guide and Sentinel takes place separately? Eyah, but you are all hypocrites and I have had enough of you. Go; take your guilty, self flagellating thoughts elsewhere while I tend to my patients."

This time the silence that fell remained unbroken as each of those gathered guiltily did as they were told and quietly left the room.