"There's a power when you're near me…"

            --Heather Nova

            "It seems like he genuinely cares about Brennan," Jesse says to Shalimar, watching Britt sit by his brother behind the window in the lab back at Sanctuary.  Emma is also in the other room staring at a computer screen full of digits and jumpy lines.

            "You were thinking otherwise?"  Shalimar asks, raising an eyebrow.

            Jesse shrugs.  "I don't know.  The whole blowing up of the compound full of people thing has me floored.  It just doesn't seem like something Brennan would ever consider.  I mean, I don't know him intimately well or anything, but he's a pretty laid-back peaceful kind of guy.  Always reading poetry and listening to classical music."

            Shalimar looks at Britt.  "I hadn't thought of that.  Britt seems okay to me, just a little strange.  He's supposed to be a genius with all these powers but it's like he's clinging to Brennan.  And Brennan's acting almost parental about him."

            "You shouldn't talk about our guest, guys," Adam says, startling them both.  "I know you both trust Brennan so you should trust his judgment."

            "Come on, Adam, tell us the truth.  Do you believe that Brennan was an eager participant in the destruction of that compound?"  Jesse asks, his voice low.

            Adam is silent for several moments.  "I think I know all of you pretty well as the people you are today.  I think that Brennan was a very confused and traumatized 13-year-old boy that did what he thought he had to in order to survive.  I think that whatever he did back then helped to make him the man that he is today.  I used to work for Genomex and you don't hold that against me."

            "Adam?  Brennan's readings are getting worse…I can't get any kind of psionic feelings from him either…" She lowers her voice.  "Britt is starting to panic." 

            Adam follows Emma into the lab.

            "Britt?  How's he doing?"  Adam asks, going to the computer.

            "He's getting paler and his body is shaking…but he's not waking up…did I do this to him?"  Britt asks, his voice sounding eerily like Brennan's.

            "I think it would have happened eventually.  His body is exhausted and with the new mutations, it's taking its toll," Adam replies.  Something on the screen startles him.

            "What is it?"  Emma asks, almost whispering to avoid alarming Britt.

             Adam's face becomes stone.  "I need a few minutes alone with Brennan.  I need to go over some readings more closely."

            "Adam…" Emma protests, sensing Britt's dangerous concern.

            "If it were either one of you, I wouldn't let anyone be in the room while I was examining you," Adam says, reassuring Brennan with a glance.

            "Come on, Britt, I'll show you where you'll be staying," Emma offers.

            Britt follows Emma from the lab.

            Adam goes to Brennan's bedside and slides a needle into his arm, drawing a vial of blood.  Brennan is still, his breathing too slight to see, the only sign of life is the steady beeping from the machine on his other side.  When he pulls the needle from his arm, he realizes that Brennan's eyes are open.

            "Brennan?"  Adam asks.  

            "Yeah?"  Brennan replies, his eyes on the vial of blood.

            "How do you feel?"  Adam asks, confused because his readings haven't changed with his sudden consciousness.

            "I don't know.  I don't think you can fix me this time."  Brennan's eyes are icy blue and show no emotion. 

            "Oh ye of little faith, Brennan…" Adam attempts to encourage him.

            "Don't lie to me, Adam…you don't know what's happening to me, do you?"  Brennan questions. 

            "Brennan, I will figure it out," Adam resolves. 

            "Take care of my brother, Adam.  He's the most important," Brennan says, looking away.

            "Not to me.  Brennan…you're like a son to me…and you are one of the best men I have ever met.  I'm not giving up until I figure this out.  I won't let you give up either.  Okay?"  Adam asks.

            Brennan nods.  "How do I fight Rorie?  How can I keep what happens in my head from happening to my body?"

            Adam is quiet as his mind tries to find a solution. 

            "I was thinking that maybe Rorie isn't actually doing anything to me except using my own powers against me.  She's convincing my body that these things are happening so when she shocks me, my body shocks me…if I'm mutation like Britt, then I'm going to have psionic and telekinetic powers…" Brennan says, defeated.  "But since she comes to me in my dreams…I really have no control of what happens because it's not me, it's my subconscious."

            "Brennan, I know you can beat her.  Britt's safe, no one is going to find him here…" Adam begins.

            "But you don't know how I can keep Rorie from killing me.  Damn, Adam…" Brennan sighs.

            "I won't let you down, Bren, I will figure out a way…" Adam starts.

            "Just take care of my brother, Adam…" Brennan says, his voice wavering as a tremor runs through him. 

            "Brennan, tell me what you feel.  Are you cold?  Hot?  You're running a fever but…" Adam switches into doctor mode in order to keep his composure.

            "Numb with stabbing pains…bright spots in my vision…nausea and dizziness...I feel like there's acid in my veins…I feel like hell, Adam.  I really don't feel like going to sleep and battling Rorie…if it is Rorie…" Brennan's eyes lose focus for a moment and his eyelids droop.

            "Brennan…hang on so I can get Britt, he's worried sick," Adam urges, eager to give Brennan a reason to stay awake.

            "I don't want him to see me like this, Adam…I hate to ask you this, but can you give me something to make the pain stop?  This is worse than I've ever had to go through…" Brennan says, pain flashing in his fading blue eyes.

            Adam hesitates.  "Brennan, I can give you something but it will make it harder for you to wake up if Rorie comes after you."

            "Never mind…I have to figure out…" Brennan starts.

            "You need to relax, Brennan, okay?  Relax…" Adam says.

            "He's awake?"  Britt's voice carries through the hallway into the lab.  He enters, followed by Emma.

            "Hey, kid…Emma showing you around?"  Brennan asks, as Britt comes to his side.

            "Yeah.  Did I mention how great it is to see you?"  Britt says, relief on his face.

            "No, but I know…sorry I'm so fucked up right now…" Brennan replies.  "You been taking care of yourself?" 

            "Barely, but yeah…Brennan?"  Britt asks, seeing Brennan's eyes shift from blue to silver in a flash.

            "Yeah…Britt, don't do anything stupid, okay?  Adam is going to take care of everything…" Brennan urges.

            Britt glances at Adam and returns his eyes to Brennan.  "You trust him that much?"

            "I trust him more than I trust myself.  Listen to him…" Brennan's voice is lost as he grits his teeth to prevent a cry of pain.

            "What's wrong?"  Britt asks, alarmed.

            "Nothing, Britt…I think I need to sleep for a little longer…give Adam a chance to figure this out…" Brennan says, his voice weak and his eyelids drooping.

            "Okay, Bren…I'll be here when you wake up…" Britt says.  Once Brennan's eyes are closed, he turns to Adam.

            Adam's eyes are already on Britt.  "Britt, can I get a blood sample from you to compare…" He starts.

            "Of course.  And I have something else that may be of use to you," Britt says.

            Adam looks at him with interest.

            "I'm sorry I didn't give it to you earlier, but I'm still a little cautious…" Britt apologizes.

            "It's okay, it's understandable.  What is it?"  Adam asks.

            Britt pulls a small disk from his pocket.  "These are the files we destroyed.  Brennan doesn't know I saved them because this disk could destroy everything.  It's complete.  It has a list of all the children in the compound, all the researchers and all the…experimentation and data."  He holds it out to Adam.  "It might help you figure out where Rorie is."

            Adam nods.  "It might also hold a clue to helping Brennan."  Adam doesn't take the disk from him. 

            "You want it?"  Britt asks.

            "No, I want you to be the one to handle it.  Jesse and the others will help you set up at a computer and take them through it.  You know the material best so you should lead the research.  I need to focus on stabilizing Brennan right now.  His health is most important," Adam says.  "Can you handle that?"

            Britt is surprised.  "Of course."

            "I'm trusting you because Brennan trusts you.  Don't let him down, Britt," Adam says, quietly.