Thanks for the replies. Hope you enjoy. For those of you that have asked, there will be another part of this series at a later time.

Disclaimers are in the first chapter. You will need a super industrial strength rope for this part.

Alli and MM
Chapter 10

Walter brought everyone to the new lab location and asked them into his office. Sloan sat down, "What is it Walter?" She noticed the dismal look on his face.

"My contact confirmed that Darien took Ed to Lewis." Tom announced.

There was silence throughout the room. "There's no telling what Lewis has done to Ed already," Sloan said somberly.

"Who's your contact?" Hobbes asked.

"It's a reliable source, Agent Hobbes. And I know how my boss was able to take down Agent Fawkes," Walter held up something that looked like a bazooka.

Sloan stood up. Tom raised a brow. Hobbes whistled. Ray glared at the weapon. "What is that? Claire asked.

"It's something new, it only works on dominants. It's a sensory disrupter." Walter put it down on his desk.

"You mean, like in Star Trek or something?" Hobbes looked at the weapon, "So, this is what had Fawkes acting all crazy in the alley. What does it do?"

"Dominant minds work on a higher frequency then human minds. What this does is disrupt the electrical impulses, in other words, this puts them in a confused state." Walter said.

"Ahh.so like how Fawkes is able to use his thoughts to confuse us, now we can do it to him or them?" Hobbes asked as he looked at Tom.

"Yes, that's right." Walter looked like he had something else to say.

"Anything else we should know about, Walter?" Ray asked.

"Yes, there is one more thing and this concerns you, Sloan."

"What? Me?" Sloan asked.

"It seems that Lewis has ordered Darien to bring you to the High Council." Walter looked around the room, "What I'm proposing is dangerous."

"You want to set a trap for Fawkes and use Sloan as bait. He'll know we're around," Hobbes pointed to his head. "Remember, he's got that extra radar going there."

"Yes, he will, but now we have the advantage," Walter patted the weapon, "This will work at a great distance and I don't think he'll be expecting us. Tom can be at a safe distance where he won't be affected. Darien should be confused long enough for us to move in and sedate him."

Tom looked at Sloan with concern. He didn't like the idea of using Sloan as bait, but it had to be done. "Sloan, I'm thirsty can you get me something to drink? Tom asked.

"Sure, anyone else need something?" Sloan counted off the number and Claire went with her to help.

Tom turned his gaze to Walter, "I have an idea. It's dangerous but it should work. I don't want to put Sloan in any danger, but it might help us get Ed back too."

"Okay, so what's this plan of yours?" Hobbes asked.

They all listened intently as Tom proposed a way to use Darien to find Ed and to bring them both back safely.

****

"You're a killer, Dr. Tate!" Karl hissed in Ed's face as he held the slightly taller man up against the wall.

"No, that's not true," Ed said.

Karl smiled and let Ed go. He fell to the floor and looked up at the dominant, "What makes you think I'm a killer?"

"Don't you remember Alaska, Dr. Tate?"

"How can I forget?" Ed replied. "I almost died," he added scornfully.

"Good, then you'll remember the hundreds of innocent people you infected with the Spanish Flu when you escaped." Karl bent down to stare into Ed's face, "How many of those innocent humans died because of you?"

"It wasn't my fault, I.I didn't know I had the flu. Don't shift this on me, Karl. If Dr. Copeland had not exhumed the virus in the first place none of that would have happened."

Karl smiled, "It's war, Dr. Tate, and we do what we must to insure victory. If I kill say 30 humans it's not a problem because humans are my enemy, but you inadvertently caused the deaths of innocent men, women and children. Over two hundred people caught that fatal disease from you." Karl stood back up and glared down at Ed, "Two hundred lives, Dr. Tate, two hundred of your own kind and all because of you."

"It.it was an accident, I didn't know!" Ed yelled back, "That wasn't my fault, I helped with the vaccine.I talked Sloan through it. I helped saved thousands, maybe millions of lives from both species."

"At a cost though, if you had stayed and helped Dr. Copeland, those innocent people would still be alive today. Playgrounds would have all those children on them right now, mothers and fathers going about their business. You were the first, Dr. Tate, why didn't you die? Why did all those that caught the flu after you died? Think about that. You cheated death, but all those poor innocent humans." Karl turned to walk out; he opened the door and started to step out. He took one last look at Ed and through his senses knew that Ed was in turmoil, he smiled and closed the door.

"I don't know why I lived. If I had known, I.d*mn it! He's trying to get to me. Don't let him.keep a level head. Yeah, head games, that's what this is all about." Ed thought back to the conversation, the words still ringing in his ears, "Over two hundred people, I didn't know. I infected all those people." Ed's head fell into his hands.

****

Darien had left the compound and broke into Sloan's apartment. He sensed her coming and didn't sense Tom or anybody else for that matter. Sloan was alone and a malevolent smiled came across his face as he waited for his prey.

Sloan unlocked the door and walked in. She put her keys down and took her coat off. Sloan went to her room and did what she normally does; she took her clothes off but kept her slip on and put her bathrobe on.

Darien watched like a cat stalking a mouse, he would play first and then go in for the kill. He quickly came up from behind her and shed the quicksilver. He grabbed Sloan from behind and pulled her close to his body, "Hello, Sloan."

Her hands clawed at Darien's arms, but that only angered him and he held on tighter, "Darien, where's Ed?"

"Ed? I'm about to play with you and you're asking about Ed?" Darien used one hand to grab at her hair and hold it close to his nose, "I just love the way your hair smells, so soft and curly too."

"Darien please, let me go. I can help you." Sloan tried to keep her composure.

"I don't think so. And I will answer your question about Ed." Darien bent down so his mouth was next to her ear, "I took him to Lewis. When I left him, he was standing before the High Council," he whispered in her ear. He moved his nose against her skin to take in her scent. "Hmmm.Sloan, I just love the smell of fear don't you?"

Darien turned her around forcibly, he held her tight by her arms, "Where is Tom?"

"I don't know." Sloan winced under the pain.

Darien smiled, "You know what I think? You do know. Tom wouldn't leave you alone. He's around, just staying far enough away so I can't sense him. I'm sure that partner of mine is with him also, probably with a dart gun in hand." Darien noticed the tear running down Sloan's cheek. He bent down and kissed the tear, "Didn't know tears could taste so sweet. I wonder how the rest of you taste."

Sloan sucked in air through her teeth when Darien's finger moved smoothly down the front of her robe. The last time she had seen that kind of hunger in a dominant's eyes was when Lynch had her trapped in the hospital stairwell. But Lynch's hunger was for blood, Darien obviously had something else on his mind.

She expected her robe to fall to the floor but was surprised when Darien cupped her face instead. Darien smiled at the fear he saw in her eyes, "Get your clothes on; we're going for a ride."

"Where?"

"To see Ed of course," Darien let go of Sloan and watched as she walked to her bedroom. He followed closely behind her.

"Do you mind?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I want to watch," Darien leaned on the door frame with his arms crossed, "to make sure you don't try anything."

"What happened to you Darien? Didn't Tom's training help you?" Sloan asked as she put her shirt back on.

Darien let out a sigh, "Let's just say, I came to my senses about this whole dominant thing. I know where I belong now. Tom's a fool and anyone else who thinks that co-existence is possible."

"That sounds more like Lewis talking then Darien." Sloan zipped up her skirt and then sat down on the bed to put her shoes on. She got up and walked towards Darien. "The Darien I know would save Ed. He wouldn't listen to Lewis or to anyone else; he would only listen to himself."

Darien looked intently at Sloan. He was about to say something when he sensed Tom. A sly smile came across his face, "Looks like the rooster is here to save his hen from the big bad wolf."

"Tom is here?"

"Come on!" Darien grabbed Sloan by her wrist, "We're going out the window." Darien took a step outside and looked down. "Ladies first," he gestured to Sloan to walk down the fire escape first.

Once they reached bottom, they got in the car and Darien drove off. Ray pulled up a moment later with Hobbes in the passenger seat holding a tracking device. Tom came out of the building and got in the back.

"Is it working?" Tom asked with a hint of nervousness in his tone. He knew what Darien was capable of.

"Like a charm," Hobbes looked at Tom, "They're heading east, towards the desert."

"It's always in the desert," Ray commented before driving off.

"Looks like you're idea worked, Daniels." Hobbes noted.

"Sloan couldn't know that we planted the tracking device on her. Darien would sense it right away." Tom said.

"What I want to know is how did you know that Darien wouldn't kill Sloan on the spot?" Ray asked. He looked in the rear view mirror and saw the look on Tom's face. Ray of course already knew the answer.

Hobbes turned in his seat to look at Tom, "Did you have a gut instinct or something?"

"No, Darien doesn't want to kill her. He has," Tom paused, he looked away then back to Hobbes, "He has feelings for her." Tom fought down his emotions. He mentally told himself that Darien was still part of the team and that he is also the victim here.

Hobbes slowly turned his head to look at Ray, "Oh crap."

****

Karl left Ed lying on the floor when he received word that Darien was on his way with Sloan. He wished that he could get his hands on Sloan, but she was for Lewis. He would have to settle for Ed. But even then he was not allowed to kill him.

Karl walked down the long corridor and headed towards Lewis' office.

****

Sloan was silent in the car. She tried her best to keep her mind blank, knowing that Darien could read her mind at any given moment.

"You're unusually quiet," Darien smirked.

"I have nothing to say," Sloan turned her head and looked out the window.

Darien smiled and kept on driving.

****

Ed struggled to sit up; he didn't know how much longer he could take Karl and his visits. "Now I know how a mouse feels." Ed felt his ribs, he winced at the pain, "Nothing seems broken, maybe just bruised." Ed leaned his head up against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. "All I wanted was a quiet job at the University, just running genetic tests and sitting in my office drinking coffee. Going hiking and surfing on the weekends with out any worries. But no.Sloan just had to dig deeper into Ann's investigation and knock on my door at three in the morning sending my solitary life into turmoil."

Ed let out a sigh and thought of the last time he saw Claire, "I hope you're okay, I miss you. I need you."

****

Claire sat and waited in Walter's office. She kept looking at her watch and then at the phone. Walter looked up from his computer, "Claire, why don't you go and continue to work on the research you and Ed started. It will help keep your mind off of it."

"I can't. I mean, Darien went on missions all the time, but this is different. Ed and Darien's life is at stake here, not to mention Sloan's. I'm just afraid that." Claire stopped.

Walter sighed, "It's out of our hands, Claire. Ed has been in sticky situations more than you know." He leaned away from his computer, "Did he tell you the time that we were chased from country to country by dominants and our own people?"

Claire looked astonished, "No, he didn't. What happened?"

Walter smiled, "Well, it all started when Tom was taken and the lab was shut down. You learn a lot about someone when you're in these situations, I had no idea that Ed suffered from a mild case of claustrophobia."

Claire chuckled, "I didn't know that, Darien suffers from arachnophobia."

"Those two have more in common than their looks," Walter noted. He leaned forward and began to tell Claire the story of their cross country race for survival.

****

"Son of a." Darien slammed on the brakes. The car skidded to a stop, dust and rocks fell around it.

"What happened?" Sloan asked nervously.

"Your boyfriend is following us and Hobbes is with him." Darien got out of the car and watched as the other car came to a stop.

"FAWKES!" Hobbes yelled out before taking aim and firing.

Darien grabbed his head and leaned up against the car, "Aw Crap, he's got one of those damn things. Man, they're everywhere like those friggin' thermals." Darien staggered.

Sloan saw her chance and started to take off running.

"No you don't little missy." Darien caught her and tried to get the quicksilver to flow but it didn't work, "Damn, that thing messed with the gland."

Darien saw Tom coming towards him. "Hey, Tom," Darien pushed Sloan to the ground. He saw Tom distracted by Sloan and he lunged at him.

Sloan watched as the two men rolled on the ground, each one trying to grasp the other's neck. She ran towards Hobbes and Ray. "You have to stop them, they'll kill each other," Sloan said fretfully.

"Don't worry, we'll stop them before they can seriously hurt each other. We need the diversion from the compound," Hobbes said.

"What?" Sloan asked.

"We couldn't let you in on the plan. We'll tell you about it later, but for now, Mark and his men are storming the compound to rescue Ed," Ray added.

"We're just here to make sure Fawkes doesn't get away," Hobbes watched as Darien and Tom fought.

"You're just going to let them fight?" Sloan said in anger.

"Tom doesn't want us to interfere. He's hoping he can bring Fawkes back." Hobbes leaned up against the car, "I don't like it either, but this is what Tom wanted."

"I hate this, but it is their way." Sloan turned and watched the fight.

Tom and Darien exchanged punches. Darien ducked from one of Tom's punches; he grabbed Tom and flipped him. Darien growled at Tom, picked him up by his shirt and tossed him over the hood of the car.

Sloan put her hand to his mouth, "I can't take this."

Hobbes put a consoling hand on her shoulder, "Tom promised me he won't hurt Fawkes."

"I'm not worried about Tom, I'm worried about Darien," Sloan shot back.

Hobbes held up the weapon, "That's why I have this insurance. I won't let anything happen to either one."

Darien jumped on the car and leaped off to land on top of Tom. Tom lifted his legs and flipped Darien over onto his back.

The only thing that Hobbes saw was a pair of legs flipping over and then Tom reappearing as he stood up.

****

At the compound, there was gunfire. Karl and Lewis looked at each other and ran to see what the commotion was about. They met one of the guards in the hall, "What is going on?" Lewis asked.

"We're under attack by the co-existence forces." The guard quickly said and took off.

Karl and Lewis looked at each other and in unison said, "Tate!"

****

The gunfire didn't seem to interrupt Darien and Tom.

Tom straddled Darien and grabbed his throat, "You don't have to do this!"

"Go to hell, Tom!" Darien punched Tom across his face. The force of the punch knocked Tom to the ground. Darien got up and grabbed Tom again. He threw Tom up against the car, grabbed him by his hair and started pounding his head against the metal frame.

Sloan yelled out, "Hobbes! He's going to kill him!"

"Not today he won't," Hobbes held up the weapon, took aim and fired.

****

Ed heard commotion outside, "So soon?"

The door flew open and two guards rushed in, "Get up!"

Ed was roughly handled to his feet, "What's."

"Shut up, you're being moved."

Once outside the cell, Ed could hear gun fire and shouting, "You're under attack?"

Ed was forced down the hall. He could barely stay on his feet. He heard Lewis' voice call out orders, "Get Tate to the truck now!"

"It's a rescue?" Ed said under his breath.

****

Darien grabbed his head. Tom collapsed to the ground.

Hobbes watched to see what Darien would do next.

Darien glared at Hobbes, "Hobbes, what the hell are you doing?" Darien started to stagger towards Hobbes, "Put that damn thing down."

"Don't come any closer, Fawkes, I'll shoot you again and scramble your brains some more," Hobbes warned.

"You wouldn't do that to your own partner would ya?" Darien took another step closer.

"Try me," Hobbes said.

Ray and Sloan watched the showdown between the two men.

****

Ed needed to stall for time so he did what anybody would do; he tripped over his own feet. The three men went crashing down to the floor. With all the strength Ed had left, he propped himself up as best he could and kneed one dominant in the groin, "That hurts you as much as it hurts me." He grabbed for the holstered gun and pulled it out.

The other dominant jumped on Ed and tackled him to the ground. They both struggled for the loose gun. Ed's height advantage came in handy and he was able to reach for the gun first.

The guard had already drawn his weapon and was bringing it up to aim at Ed.

Everything moved in slow motion as Ed pointed the gun towards the guard.

Two gunshots echoed through the hall.

****

Darien took off in a sprint towards Hobbes.

"Sorry, partner," Hobbes pulled the trigger.

Darien convulsed and fell to the ground.

Hobbes lowered the weapon.

****

Ed stared blankly as the guard fell over. He waited for the pain to come, but it never did. He looked at the gun, the safety was still on. Ed looked around and that's when he saw the shooter.

Darcy slowly lowered the gun. She looked at Ed, "I couldn't let him kill you. You helped protect Kelly and me from Lynch when we left the cave. Now we're even."

Before Ed could thank her, Darcy was gone. He got up and ran as fast as he could.

****

Sloan went to Tom's side. He was out cold. She held him in her arms.

Hobbes checked on Darien. He looked up at Ray, "He won't be given us trouble anytime soon."

"Let's get these two in the cars and get out of here," Ray said.

Sloan stayed with Tom while Ray and Hobbes kept Darien company in the other car. They drove to meet Mark at the rendezvous point.

****

"Ray just called. They're on their way to meet Mark now." Walter said to Claire.

"Did Mark find Ed?" Claire asked with apprehension.

"Yes, in fact, Mark suspects that Ed got away during the commotion. He's going to be fine, just weak from his ordeal between Stark and Lewis," Walter half smiled.

"What about Darien and Sloan?"

"Darien is unconscious and Sloan is fine, shaken, but she'll be alright. Hobbes had to use the weapon in close proximity to Tom, so he's been affected as well."

"Let's just hope they get here now without anything else happening," Claire said.

Walter nodded in agreement.

****

After Hobbes and company got Darien, Tom and Ed back to the new lab, Mark and his men took off. Claire and Walter greeted them and they went to work to assess the injuries. Ed was slightly dehydrated, nothing that an IV couldn't handle and some bumps and bruises. But overall he was fine. Claire had given him some medication when he first arrived to help him rest more comfortably. That was about two hours ago.

Claire then moved on to Darien who was restrained to the gurney. She kept him sedated until Tom was feeling better. Right now, Tom was their only hope to help Darien regain control again. Claire began to prepare another sedative for Darien. His metabolism worked in overdrive since his DNA had been altered. Medications seem to go through his system quicker than usual.

Sloan sat with Tom in another room. Hobbes and Ray were giving Walter an account of what happened during the rescue. All of them were completely unaware as to what was about to happen.

Ed was lying down when he heard Darien in his mind, "Ed, you need to get up and help me. Claire is going to kill me."

"Darien?" Ed moved slightly.

"Yes, it's me.you're the only one I trust. The Official just talked to her about harvesting the gland. You've got to help me." Darien said.

Ed got up and staggered towards Darien. He saw Claire doing something but he couldn't see very well.

"Ed, she's preparing to give me a shot, you have to stop her," Darien commanded.

Ed looked around quickly and found some chloroform. He put some on a rag and pressed it to Claire's face. She tried to fight, but Ed was too strong. When she stopped struggling he laid her gently on the floor and kissed her lips, "Sorry, but I can't let you do this."

Ed stood up and quickly packed a bag. He went over to Darien and untied the restraints, Darien leapt off the gurney and quicksilvered both of them. They found a car and Darien hot wired it. Ed got in the driver's seat and Darien sat on the passenger side. Ed handed Darien some water, "Here you should drink this, sometimes the drugs can dehydrate you."

"Thanks," Darien drank nearly the whole bottle. When they were nearly a mile away, Darien started to feel sleepy. He realized then that Ed had drugged the water, "What did you do, Ed?"

"I'm doing what you asked."

Before Darien passed out he mumbled to Ed, "I thought I could trust you."

"You can, I'm going to help you," Ed watched as Darien's eyes closed shut.

****

Hobbes walked in and saw Claire lying on the floor. He also noticed that Darien was gone. "Oh no, what you do now, Fawkes?" Hobbes went to see if Ed was wake. Ed was gone too, "Ah just great." Hobbes poked his head and called for help.

Hobbes picked up Claire and put her on the gurney. Sloan, Ray and Walter ran in.

"What happened? Where's Darien?" Sloan asked.

"He must have knocked out Claire." Ray glanced around and saw that Ed was gone too.

"You think Darien took Ed back to Lewis?" Sloan asked.

"This isn't' kosher, my friend. Darien must have done that mind meld thing. He got Ed's attention by doing the Amazing Kreskin act, he knocked out Claire and untied Darien, and together they left."

"And how do you figure?" Ray asked.

"Simple, I found Claire facing towards Darien's gurney." Hobbes stopped and motioned towards where Ed had been resting, "Ed was located behind her. Darien faked sleeping like he did before. Contacted Ed's mind, told him to knock out Claire," Hobbes picked up the rag, and took a quick sniff, "Whoa.chloroform.Ed came up from behind her and then set her down after he knocked her out. That's why when I found her she was on her back. Ed released Darien and off they went."

Ray's hand was on his chin as he listened to Hobbes, "I'll go along with that. It's very possible. We'll know for sure when Claire wakes up."

"Okay, now where did they go?" Ray asked.

"That my friend, I have no clue. But I bet they didn't go back to the compound." Hobbes said.

Sloan looked despondent, "I can't believe this happening. We really needed Tom."

****

A short time later, Hobbes walked out of Walter's office sullen. Sloan looked at him, "What happened, Hobbes?"

"I uhmm.just got off the phone with the Fat Man. He's pretty upset. I've been ordered back to San Diego and so has Claire."

"Why? You're needed here now." Sloan said.

"Well, its kind of a long story, it has something to do the last time Fawkes went AWOL. I disobeyed orders and went out after him; he doesn't want me doing that again. A.uhmm.warrant is out on Ed for treason." Hobbes said solemnly.

"What?" Sloan was horrified.

"Well, when Ed took Darien, he also took government property meaning the gland. He also wants to charge Ed for kidnapping." Hobbes glanced down at the floor, "The warrant issued is for either dead or alive and knowing the Fat Man, he'd prefer dead. As for Fawkes, only the gland is to be brought back, unharmed."

"Ed did the right thing. He's a medical doctor and swore an oath to use his knowledge to help those in need. He's only doing his job. That man doesn't care about Darien. Never did. None of you did, the only reason you were hired was to protect the gland," Sloan hissed at Hobbes. "I care about him and I'm glad Ed took Darien away before you could cut him open," Sloan had turned her verbal attack on Claire. "Now I may lose two people I care about." Sloan stormed out of the new lab.

Hobbes and Claire looked at each other, "Well, what do we do now?" Claire asked.

"We go find Fawkes and Tate before the Fat Man's cronies do." Hobbes looked at Claire.

Claire stared back at Hobbes with red swollen eyes, "Bobby, you have to find them before." Claire paused as a terrible thought raced across her mind, "I lost Kevin, twice.I can't lose Ed too."

****

Ed kept Darien sedated until they reached their destination. He knew that Darien's metabolism worked faster, so the injections he gave Darien were closer than normal. He loved Claire but no way was he going to allow Darien to die. It wasn't Darien's fault what happened to him, Lewis did something and Ed believed he could reverse it. Like Sloan had helped Tom. He also knew that Darien was very dangerous and his attempt to help Darien could end his life. Ed was willing to take that risk. At least he knew he could die with that on his conscious.

Ed had wanted to go do down to South America, but for some reason he stopped at Oaxaca, Mexico. He drove out into the desert and stopped by an abandoned house. He was near the site that he, Sloan and Tom had visited years ago, the spot where they found the mummified remains of a little girl and the pillar.

Ed stood, looked around a bit and went back to the car. He carried Darien inside and set him down on the dirt covered floor. He went back out to the car and got his supplies.

Ed reached into his bag and pulled out a water bottle and a knife. He walked over to Darien and knelt down beside him. Darien opened his eyes and glared at the knife.

Darien smirked, "You think a knife is going to protect you from me? You should have brought a gun, doc."

"I don't like guns. Besides, the knife isn't for my protection."

"Can't wait to see where you're going with this. How were you able to pull that stunt in the car with the drugged water? I thought I had you under control," Darien paused, "Ah, that weapon, I hadn't fully recovered from it yet. But since we are together I do have to tell you a teeny weenie itsy bitsy secret. Claire slept with you because you remind her of my dear departed geek brother Kevin," Darien laughed.

Ed glared at Darien.

Darien sensed the emotional change in Ed. "Oh man, if you could see the look on your face right now." Darien tilted his head sideways, "Did I hurt Mr. Double Doc's feelings? You just don't have luck with the chicks do you? Too shy to tell Sloan how you really felt for all those years and too weak that everyone around you manipulates you, even Claire."

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Ed hollered. Darien's words were still in Ed's mind, "I.it doesn't matter now, we're not here to talk about my love life or lack there of." Ed picked up the knife.

"What do you hope to accomplish from this, Ed? You know you can't win." Darien said keeping a close eye on the knife.

"Sloan was able to bring Tom back and I'm hoping I can do the same." Ed used the knife to remove the restraints. He stood up and backed away from Darien.

Darien watched as he was freed. "I don't think I would have done that," Darien said snidely.

"You were going to break free sooner or later. Besides, I know that the real Darien who wouldn't hurt anybody is still in there."

"You're a fool, Ed. I have my orders. Get rid of the chick in the limo and Sloan."

"I don't care about that woman, she's done nothing but cause us misery."

"Ahh.but you do care about Sloan." Darien scoffed as he stood up.

"Of course I do." Ed handed Darien the knife, "I want to make a deal with you."

Darien held the gleaming knife in his hand. He smiled as he looked at Ed, "A deal, with me? You just handed me a knife and now you want to make a deal."

"Yes," Ed grabbed Darien's hand and pulled himself towards the knife. He could feel the sharp tip through his shirt. "I want you to take my life instead of Sloan's."

"What?"

"You heard me, dammit!" Ed pushed the knife closer to his stomach. "I'm giving my life for her, don't kill her. She's not the threat to the dominants. I am. I'm the one that found the secret to the nanites, I'm the one that found a way to stop them. I helped Sloan come up the vaccine to Spanish Influenza." Ed squeezed Darien's hand, "I came up with the gene therapy to alter the dominants DNA to match our own. I'm the threat, not Sloan. I'm asking you to spare Sloan's life and take mine instead."

Darien tossed the knife aside, "You know that's not our way." He swung Ed around and held him in a head lock. Ed felt the pain in his neck as Darien slowly applied pressure.

Ed grabbed for Darien's arm, "Which ever way you want." Ed braced himself and silently said his goodbyes. Darien applied more pressure and Ed felt the pain increase, "You destroyed the lab, all my research is gone, whatever is in my head dies with me."

Darien couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing. He didn't think Ed would actually go through with it again, "You're serious, and you would die in her place?"

"You should know that about me by now." Ed blinked wildly from the pain.

Darien paused as words bombarded his mind, "Compassion." He knew what it was, but hadn't felt it since his conversion.

"Yeah, devotion, whatever you want to call it." Ed could feel the pressure release slightly, "You've worked with Hobbes for a long time, I'm sure at one point you were willing to sacrifice your life for him." He waited for any hint of realization and then he felt it.

Darien's grip loosened even more. "I thought so," Ed said, "You were human and no matter how this DNA conversion may work, those memories are still inside you. They can take away your humanity but they can't take away what you once had or felt."

Darien paused, he looked up, "Someone's coming.human. You betrayed me!" Darien's arm tightened around Ed's neck.

"I betrayed you, what do you think you did to me when you brought me to Lewis?" Ed tried to pry free from Darien's grip. "I don't want to be found by them, why do you think I brought you here?" Ed struggled for breath.

Darien loosened his grip again, "Wait.you don't want the humans to find you?"

"No," Ed coughed when his lungs was suddenly filled with air again, "Darien, I'm not a dummy; I stole valuable government property and went across the border with it. What do you think they're going to do to me?"

"Arrest you for treason."

"Yes and what do you think they'll do to you?"

"Harvest the gland."

"Bingo! We have to leave."

"I'm not going to kill you, but I will take you back to Lewis." Darien stopped, "The humans aren't alone.dominants are here too."

"As if this can't get any worse. How close are they?"

"Closer than the humans." Darien gripped Ed by his arm and pulled him along, "We're going back, Ed."

"No, Darien, think about what you're doing. This isn't you." Ed struggled to release himself but Darien was too strong.

"Sorry, doc, but this is me," Darien turned the corner and saw the two men standing at the end of the hall. One had his gun raised. "Hey guys, thought you'd never find us." Darien stopped when he sensed the humans coming in from behind him. He started to run towards the two dominants with Ed still in his grip.

Everything moved so fast for Ed. He saw the humans raise their guns and shout for them to stop. Ed turned his head and looked at Darien. Ed angled his direction and used his momentum to push Darien out of the line of fire, "Darien!" he yelled just before the first gun went off.

Ed felt the bullet go in but he didn't feel any pain at first and then the second hit his shoulder. His body jerked and he fell to the floor.

Darien stared at Ed, blood started to soak his shirt. He looked around as the dominants and the humans shot at each other in a hail of gunfire. Darien turned his gaze back on Ed's quivering body.

For a moment, Darien was back at the compound. Both he and Kevin were running down the hall. He heard them both say "Oh crap," and then Kevin was shot several times. The whole scene played out in his head.

"Darien." The voice gasped.

"Kevin." Darien said. Mesmerized by the vision, he sat still.

"Da.Dari.en." The voice gasped again.

"Kevin." Darien repeated.

"Darien.help."

Darien snapped back into reality. It wasn't Kevin calling him, but Ed. "Oh my God, no.no," he scooted to Ed and held Ed in his arms like he did Kevin. "Ed.I'm gonna get some help."

"Darien.you promised me." Ed winced at the pain. He could feel his life draining from him. Ed struggled to keep his eyes opened.

"Shhh.don't talk. I've got to stop the bleeding." Darien quicksilvered his hand and pressed it to Ed's abdomen and then his shoulder.

Ed hissed in pain from the freezing temperature. "Darien.keep your.word." Ed moaned, "Ah God.Claire.I'm sorry." Ed looked at Darien, he felt himself slipping away, "Claire.tell her.I love her, no matter.what."

"No, Ed, don't do this, please.I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that, it's not true."

Ed shook his head, "It's not.your."Ed tired to talk, but it was becoming more difficult. The room was starting to turn dark.

"Don't talk, Ed please hold on.I can't lose another.brother.please, Ed.Ed." Darien took hold of Ed's bloody hand.

Ed looked into Darien's eyes, "Your.brother?"

"Yeah, brah." Darien squeezed Ed's hand. "I'm back, you did it."

Ed smiled, "Then.then.it's.worth it." Ed's grip on Darien's hand loosened. His eyelids fluttered then shut.

Darien watched as Ed's hand fell to the floor, "No.Ed.Ed.no.ED!" Darien lowered his head to Ed's chest and rocked back and forth.

Outside a helicopter had landed. Darien knew who was in it and he didn't care. He didn't even care about the gland or what may happen to him, nothing mattered anymore. His hold on Ed didn't cease. Even the shouts that filled the old house were not enough to break him out of his trance. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You have to let him go," a voice said to Darien.

Darien looked up with despair in his face, "No." Darien held onto Ed tighter. He wanted to cry but he had no tears, after all, dominants don't have tear ducts.

TBC.