The haze of sleep slowly left him, but Brennan once more didn't wish to
wake. His sedated sleep had been dreamless and peaceful. If he allowed
himself to open his eyes, he'd be confronted with a reality he couldn't
face. Instead of being home and safe in his own bed, he was lying on a
table in some lab, strapped down, alone, and helpless.
If he woke up, he thought he might cry. He was so afraid, and he hated being made to feel weak, powerless to control the situation he now found himself in. He didn't want to spend any more moments in fear, wondering when he'd be put through another test... wondering if the next round of torture would leave his body dead yet again. He wasn't even certain how many times he'd crossed that line already. Was it only once, or had it happened half a dozen times?
He didn't want to be a lab rat any longer. He wanted to get out of here and kick some ass while doing so. He wanted to shoot hoops with Jesse or spar with Shalimar. He wanted pizza and beer and KFC. He wanted anything edible. He wanted to wear his own clothes and not be confronted by all white walls. He wanted to know what it would be like to hold Emma in his arms as something more than a friend.
He was scared and wanted Adam to take him home. He just plain wanted.
This fear wasn't him, he told himself. Brennan Mulwray wasn't frightened by anything or anyone. And he most certainly would not be afraid of Eckhart. Eckhart was merely a man. He might be able to physically hurt him, but Eckhart didn't have the power to make him cry. Nobody ever would.
Taking a deep breath and steeling himself, Brennan opened his eyes. He'd face another day in this place. And he wouldn't allow them to change or break him.
-----
Noticing that Brennan had come around, Jordan moved to his side. Brennan said nothing, so he spoke first. "I gave you another injection. It was enough to keep you from getting any worse." He gave him his best reassuring smile. "How's your breathing?"
Brennan felt fine. "Why didn't you just let me die?" he asked bluntly.
Jordan stared down at him. "Contrary to whatever you believe, Mulwray, I don't want to see you dead."
"You'd rather just keep torturing me," Brennan replied. Death might actually be preferable. "Tell me something, is there a way to reverse what's been done to me?"
Frowning, Jordan drew back. "No. After the next injection, the process will be complete."
Brennan didn't bother to follow him with his eyes and settled for staring at the ceiling. "So it isn't even possible for me to die?"
"I didn't say that," Jordan replied then paused. "You feel like stretching your legs?"
It made sense that Eckhart would have a kill-switch. "Then just kill me and get it over with." He half meant it. He looked over at Jordan before sighing and nodding in answer to his question.
Jordan began undoing the restraints. "I already told you I have no intention of seeing you dead. I don't enjoy watching you be hurt." Yet he'd been practically giddy when writing his last report. Jordan chased that thought aside. He was capable of seeing the end result without condoning the methods, although now he wasn't certain about the result either.
"You're the only one," Brennan mumbled, seeming to accept that Jordan was telling the truth. He sat up and rubbed his wrists.
This time, Jordan actually believed him. Everyone else here got a high off causing pain in the name of science. It was addictive. "For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be him," Jordan confessed. "Eckhart was like a god to me. He's a genius."
"Bathroom?" Brennan requested, standing and then allowing his hands to be cuffed. Jordan motioned to the door and they started walking.
"You seriously need a new role model," Brennan added as they entered the hallway. "Why can't you be normal and worship an athlete or a movie star? Somebody who just looks pretty but has never actually accomplished anything."
"Why is it that when I talk to you, I see evil in him?" Jordan asked quietly, but he already knew the answer. Whenever he talked to Brennan, he couldn't distance himself. He was having conversations with a person, not a guinea pig. Eckhart never noticed the distinction.
Since there was nobody else around, Brennan felt it was safe to talk. "Maybe you've just seen the light. Face it, kid, you're president of the Lex Luthor fan club."
Jordan stopped and shoved open the door to the bathroom. "And who do you idolize? Your Adam is no better."
Brennan entered the bathroom and Jordan followed. "Perhaps once. And I know I still doubt him based on his past, but I shouldn't. I have to believe that people can change. If they don't, where would that leave me?" He scanned the room for any possible escape routes, but there were no windows or conveniently placed air vents that were just the right size to climb through.
He glanced over at Jordan. "Is it really necessary for you to guard me while I pee?" Jordan hesitantly took off his handcuffs and stepped outside. Brennan heard him lean against the door.
"Alright. From now on, I only admire David Duchovny," Jordan said through the door. "Searching for the truth."
"Didn't he do porn before the X-Files?" Brennan called back. Just out of curiosity, he searched for cameras and then wound up an electrical charge in his hands. They'd forgotten to reactivate his governor after drowning him, and still nobody had noticed. This would have been the perfect chance to make his break, except that he really did need to pee.
He could hear the grin in Jordan's voice. "Hey, you just said not to judge people by their pasts. Besides, he fits your role model requirements in that he's a good-looking actor who has never accomplished anything along the lines of winning a Nobel Prize or solving world hunger."
"Why not Nicholas Lea?" Brennan asked, finishing his business.
"Didn't he play a bad guy?"
Shrugging, Brennan moved to wash his hands. "No. His character was trying to save the world also. He wasn't evil, just misunderstood." He rejoined Jordan.
"How many episodes of the X-Files have you seen?" Jordan laughed, shaking his head. "Krycek killed Mulder's father, ya know."
"Really? Okay fine, David Duchovny it is then." He paused, making sure his hands were completely dry. His manipulation of Jordan seemed to be going well, and he wondered if attempting to run was worth the risk of losing it. He had the option of just zapping him right now and going it on his own. "Look, I'm sorry about that whole strangling you thing before. You were kinda in my way."
Jordan bought the apology without suspicion. "Then I suppose I'm sorry for the almost letting you be autopsied thing. You were kinda dead. If the situation ever happens again, I'll make certain full blood tests are run first. That will show if the strand is still stable."
Brennan seemed uncomfortable for a while but then nodded. He'd give the kid a chance. "So, you think we can be friends again?" He held out his hand to Jordan.
"We never were friends," Jordan replied honestly.
"Oh, right. In that case, arch enemies again?" he joked. Then he waited. If Jordan didn't take the bait, Brennan was done playing games and would end their relationship right here.
Jordan took his hand. "Sure. I've never been anybody's evil nemesis before."
They shook hands before Brennan let himself be cuffed again. Escape would be more likely to succeed with an ally. And Jordan was coming around. He'd just referred to himself as the bad guy.
-----
TBC...
The next part is already in the hands of the beta-readers.
If he woke up, he thought he might cry. He was so afraid, and he hated being made to feel weak, powerless to control the situation he now found himself in. He didn't want to spend any more moments in fear, wondering when he'd be put through another test... wondering if the next round of torture would leave his body dead yet again. He wasn't even certain how many times he'd crossed that line already. Was it only once, or had it happened half a dozen times?
He didn't want to be a lab rat any longer. He wanted to get out of here and kick some ass while doing so. He wanted to shoot hoops with Jesse or spar with Shalimar. He wanted pizza and beer and KFC. He wanted anything edible. He wanted to wear his own clothes and not be confronted by all white walls. He wanted to know what it would be like to hold Emma in his arms as something more than a friend.
He was scared and wanted Adam to take him home. He just plain wanted.
This fear wasn't him, he told himself. Brennan Mulwray wasn't frightened by anything or anyone. And he most certainly would not be afraid of Eckhart. Eckhart was merely a man. He might be able to physically hurt him, but Eckhart didn't have the power to make him cry. Nobody ever would.
Taking a deep breath and steeling himself, Brennan opened his eyes. He'd face another day in this place. And he wouldn't allow them to change or break him.
-----
Noticing that Brennan had come around, Jordan moved to his side. Brennan said nothing, so he spoke first. "I gave you another injection. It was enough to keep you from getting any worse." He gave him his best reassuring smile. "How's your breathing?"
Brennan felt fine. "Why didn't you just let me die?" he asked bluntly.
Jordan stared down at him. "Contrary to whatever you believe, Mulwray, I don't want to see you dead."
"You'd rather just keep torturing me," Brennan replied. Death might actually be preferable. "Tell me something, is there a way to reverse what's been done to me?"
Frowning, Jordan drew back. "No. After the next injection, the process will be complete."
Brennan didn't bother to follow him with his eyes and settled for staring at the ceiling. "So it isn't even possible for me to die?"
"I didn't say that," Jordan replied then paused. "You feel like stretching your legs?"
It made sense that Eckhart would have a kill-switch. "Then just kill me and get it over with." He half meant it. He looked over at Jordan before sighing and nodding in answer to his question.
Jordan began undoing the restraints. "I already told you I have no intention of seeing you dead. I don't enjoy watching you be hurt." Yet he'd been practically giddy when writing his last report. Jordan chased that thought aside. He was capable of seeing the end result without condoning the methods, although now he wasn't certain about the result either.
"You're the only one," Brennan mumbled, seeming to accept that Jordan was telling the truth. He sat up and rubbed his wrists.
This time, Jordan actually believed him. Everyone else here got a high off causing pain in the name of science. It was addictive. "For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be him," Jordan confessed. "Eckhart was like a god to me. He's a genius."
"Bathroom?" Brennan requested, standing and then allowing his hands to be cuffed. Jordan motioned to the door and they started walking.
"You seriously need a new role model," Brennan added as they entered the hallway. "Why can't you be normal and worship an athlete or a movie star? Somebody who just looks pretty but has never actually accomplished anything."
"Why is it that when I talk to you, I see evil in him?" Jordan asked quietly, but he already knew the answer. Whenever he talked to Brennan, he couldn't distance himself. He was having conversations with a person, not a guinea pig. Eckhart never noticed the distinction.
Since there was nobody else around, Brennan felt it was safe to talk. "Maybe you've just seen the light. Face it, kid, you're president of the Lex Luthor fan club."
Jordan stopped and shoved open the door to the bathroom. "And who do you idolize? Your Adam is no better."
Brennan entered the bathroom and Jordan followed. "Perhaps once. And I know I still doubt him based on his past, but I shouldn't. I have to believe that people can change. If they don't, where would that leave me?" He scanned the room for any possible escape routes, but there were no windows or conveniently placed air vents that were just the right size to climb through.
He glanced over at Jordan. "Is it really necessary for you to guard me while I pee?" Jordan hesitantly took off his handcuffs and stepped outside. Brennan heard him lean against the door.
"Alright. From now on, I only admire David Duchovny," Jordan said through the door. "Searching for the truth."
"Didn't he do porn before the X-Files?" Brennan called back. Just out of curiosity, he searched for cameras and then wound up an electrical charge in his hands. They'd forgotten to reactivate his governor after drowning him, and still nobody had noticed. This would have been the perfect chance to make his break, except that he really did need to pee.
He could hear the grin in Jordan's voice. "Hey, you just said not to judge people by their pasts. Besides, he fits your role model requirements in that he's a good-looking actor who has never accomplished anything along the lines of winning a Nobel Prize or solving world hunger."
"Why not Nicholas Lea?" Brennan asked, finishing his business.
"Didn't he play a bad guy?"
Shrugging, Brennan moved to wash his hands. "No. His character was trying to save the world also. He wasn't evil, just misunderstood." He rejoined Jordan.
"How many episodes of the X-Files have you seen?" Jordan laughed, shaking his head. "Krycek killed Mulder's father, ya know."
"Really? Okay fine, David Duchovny it is then." He paused, making sure his hands were completely dry. His manipulation of Jordan seemed to be going well, and he wondered if attempting to run was worth the risk of losing it. He had the option of just zapping him right now and going it on his own. "Look, I'm sorry about that whole strangling you thing before. You were kinda in my way."
Jordan bought the apology without suspicion. "Then I suppose I'm sorry for the almost letting you be autopsied thing. You were kinda dead. If the situation ever happens again, I'll make certain full blood tests are run first. That will show if the strand is still stable."
Brennan seemed uncomfortable for a while but then nodded. He'd give the kid a chance. "So, you think we can be friends again?" He held out his hand to Jordan.
"We never were friends," Jordan replied honestly.
"Oh, right. In that case, arch enemies again?" he joked. Then he waited. If Jordan didn't take the bait, Brennan was done playing games and would end their relationship right here.
Jordan took his hand. "Sure. I've never been anybody's evil nemesis before."
They shook hands before Brennan let himself be cuffed again. Escape would be more likely to succeed with an ally. And Jordan was coming around. He'd just referred to himself as the bad guy.
-----
TBC...
The next part is already in the hands of the beta-readers.