Collateral Damage: Chapter 7

See Prologue for disclaimer and other story notes.

Complications

~*~

Adam hated feeling helpless. He felt that he should be doing something, at least trying to find a cure on his own. However, he knew that was his emotions talking and that logic dictated any attempts would be useless.

Jesse shifted against his shoulder and murmured something softly in his sleep. Adam instinctively stroked a hand over his head, calming him.

His thoughts shifted as he glanced at him, a fond smile crossing his features. Jesse looked so young and innocent when he slept. One would never know that he faced such danger on a regular basis.

This young man had been under his skin since day one. And even when he was throwing that attitude around, even when he purposely disobeyed every word Adam said, he was still special. Here was a boy who had grown up seemingly with so much, but who was in want of one major thing—someone to love him. Not someone who wrote it on a Christmas card once a year, but someone who truly cared for him.

Adam had surprised himself with his ability to give that. And while he felt that all of the children of Genomex were his responsibility to some degree, this one had claimed a chunk of his heart. This one he had come to love like a son.

This one, who was currently dying in his arms.

The thought made him squeeze Jesse tighter. Though still asleep, the young man unconsciously responded by snuggling against him. Adam felt the sudden pressure behind his eyes and shut them tightly, biting his lip. It wasn't enough, however, and a single tear slipped past his defenses and down his cheek.

When he'd watched Shannon losing her daughter so many years earlier, he had thought he sympathized. He thought he understood. But he hadn't, not really.

He did now.

He wondered if that had been her intention.

~*~

Shannon Keets took a deep calming breath and wished futilely for the cigarettes she'd given up a year ago. Doctors were supposed to know better, after all.

Instead she popped a piece of bubble gum into her mouth, then glanced yet again at her watch. She was beginning to doubt the wisdom in this plan. She didn't want to be a murderer, she just wanted her daughter.

"Doc, you're thinking too hard again," came a chiding voice.

Shannon glanced up. "Gina. Where have you been?"

The blonde shrugged. "We can't all sit around and brood all the time. Got to have some fun in our lives." She slid onto the desk, crossing her legs. She smiled at James, their lab tech who stood nearby, then turned back to Shannon. Shannon noticed that he flushed and looked away. She shook her head and smiled slightly, still marveling at the effect Gina had on men in her proximity. But what was really amazing was the brain she had backing it up. She was often underestimated, something that had made her perfect for Shannon's purposes. The young feral had been working with her so long now that she was almost like a sister. "So…anything new?" Gina asked.

Shannon grew serious again. "No. Nothing yet."

"Well, I suppose it takes time to break and enter. I'm sure they're working on it."

Shannon shook her head slightly. "I don't know. I'm beginning to think we went about this all wrong."

"Hey," Gina leaned down to catch her eyes. "Don't start doubting yourself now. You've waited too long and spent too much time perfecting the drug and its antidote. You said it yourself; Adam Caine would never have understood until he felt what you felt." She sat up straight again. "He'll bring her. Everything will turn out perfectly, you'll see."

She wasn't so sure, but she nodded slightly. "Thanks, Gina."

"Sure thing." With that she pushed off of the desk and headed for James. Shannon watched curiously as she spoke to him. He glanced Shannon's way, then Gina pulled on his arm and urged him out of sight. For some reason, the scene made her uneasy. She shrugged it off. James was a big boy. Surely he could take care of himself.

She turned back to her desk, reaching to pick up the 8 x 10 frame in the center. Without conscious thought, she caressed the colorful image of her daughter. "Soon, baby. You'll be home with me soon," she whispered.

~*~

Brennan watched as Emma swept away a strand of chestnut hair to place a hand on the icy cheek. "She's so cold," she whispered.

"I think that's kind of the idea," he responded. Still, he gazed at her as well. No child should be this still. There was something very unnatural about it. "Shouldn't she be coming around?" he asked after a moment.

"Give her some time. It's not like waking up from a nap."

"More like waking from the dead," he muttered, casting yet another look around and back to Shalimar. He still felt uneasy, and had decided that the less time they spent here the better.

He brought his attention pack to the pod when he heard a small moan. The little brunette moved slightly, then slowly pried her eyes open. Her gaze landed on Emma.

"Hi," Emma said with a smile.

The girl—Tamara, Brennan reminded himself—sat up slowly, looking up at them sleepily. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Emma, and this is Brennan."

Big brown eyes blinked between them. Brennan offered her a smile and a small wave. "Hi, Tamara."

She looked back to Emma. "I'm cold," she announced with a shiver.

"I know, but you'll be warmer soon," Emma cajoled, still smiling to seem less threatening to the child.

Brennan chimed in, "We're gonna get you out of here, okay?"

She looked around, seeming to notice the dark, sterile conditions for the first time. The eyes got impossibly wider and her lower lip began to tremble slightly. "Where's my mommy?"

"It's okay Sweetie, we're going to take you to her," Emma tried to reassure.

"Guys," Shalimar suddenly interrupted from the doorway. "Company's coming," she called softly.

Brennan started to swear but Emma swiftly cut him off, nodding to the girl. He sighed. He wasn't accustomed to having a kid around. She was staring at him curiously. He gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile. "Okay. Tamara, we're gonna play a little game, all right? I need you to be as quiet as you can, and I'm gonna give you a ride out of here."

She nodded tentatively and he reached to scoop her up. He noticed absently that she really was cold. Settling her on his hip, he wrapped a securing arm around her and then led the way to the door.

Shalimar was already out in the hallway, looking the way they had come in. As her teammates arrived behind her she gestured in the opposite direction. "That way," she said succinctly. Brennan didn't need to be told twice. He again took the lead, letting Shalimar bring up the rear as she monitored the proximity of whoever was coming.

Tamara wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on, looking over his shoulder. She remained quiet as she had been told, though it was obvious that she was observing everything with wide-eyed interest.

He was now certain he heard footsteps behind them. With a word from Shalimar, Brennan quickened his pace.

When he rounded the next corner, a sudden 'ping' beside his head made him hit the deck. When he looked up, he found himself staring down the barrels of at least five pistols. He slowly stood to his feet, keeping the bulk of his body between Tamara and the guns. Behind him, the footsteps grew loud before grinding to a halt with the very specific sound of more triggers cocking into firing position. Tamara's grip on his neck tightened to the point that it constricted his breathing. He readjusted her minutely, keeping his eyes on the men in front of him. He stared at them coldly.

"Get down on your knees. Hands where we can see them," came the terse order.

Backing down from a fight wasn't something he did as a general rule, but the presence of the young girl in his arms changed things. This was not good.

"Oh—"

Despite the deadly situation, both girls still cut him off with a simultaneous hiss. "Brennan!"

He rolled his eyes but tightened his grip on Tamara. This was going to get ugly.

~*~

To be continued