All disclaimers apply.

CHAPTER 4

"ADAM!" Jesse screamed upon entering the lad "Shalimar needs help, now!"

Emma ran past Jesse making herself available to Adam for assistance. Adam turned wide-eyed as Brennan entered with Shalimar, her body-hanging limp in Brennan's blood soaked arms.

"Brennan! Lay her on her stomach."

Adam stabbed at the lab computer controls and whirled around, a thin syringe in his hand.

"Here. Put her here!" He nodded at the lad table following Brennan and brushing away a clump of bloodied blond hair from the young women's shoulder before administering the small shot. Adam ran around opposite Brennan and helped as the two maneuvered the female out of his arms and onto the table.

"Adam? What? What can I Do?" Brennan stammered.

"Get her shirt off. I need to see where the wound is." Adam tossed Brennan a pair of scissors. Brennan cut across the bloodied shirt as Jesse pulled the ruined fabric away tossing it to the ground, then peeling her bra strap with one clip her back was now visible and the damage painfully apparent.

"Oh my God" Jesse took a step back "Adam please." He begged taking in the appearance of torn and mutilated skin that consumed the young women's back.

Adam swallowed deep and began his work, Emma by his side. "Brennan, Jesse, Please. I cannot have you in here."

Brennan's eyes sought out Adam's, moist fear filled them as he held tight Shalimar's unconscious hand.

"Please?" Adam begged.

With one last squeeze of her hand Brennan allowed himself to be led away by Jesse who stared blankly at his most beloved friends pale features. He whispered a small prayer to whoever was listening.

Hours had passed; neither knew how long it had been since they had seen Emma or Adam. Jesse sat, head hanging between his knees, arms stretched out at length atop them he had not moved for some time. Brennan stood one leg angled as his foot rested against the wall to which he had been leaning for the past hour. Life dragged on for both of them.

What if she dies? What if I cannot be there for her? Brennan's thoughts ran wild pulling him even further into a state of complete misery. I care so much for her. Even her teasing is bearable, almost fun at times. What I wouldn't give to hold her now, tell her everything will be okay. His hands absently ran through his hair and down his face the thoughts ravaging his mind. Jesse watched the wall in front of him, catching the slight movement Brennan made he looked quizzically at him. Shalimar was his best friend, he would do anything and everything for her, now he saw in Brennan she was becoming more to him than just his teammate. Jesse had to smile; Shal was a fighter she would make it through. She had to, he needed her to and now he saw Brennan did as well.

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The dark room was lit by but a single candle. A small raccoon hung from the ceiling rafter by its back legs tied. The small creature struggled in a futile attempted to escape its binds. The man withdrew a curved blade and slowly began cutting. Shrills of pain echoed throughout the empty building as the small raccoon flailed about trying to escape the pale man.

"Kyle? Why don't we play with the big guy next? I like the way he hovered over the little blond." Klarissa cooed from her lover's feet. She was lying on the floor beside Kyle, propped by her hand as she painted his toenails with the droplets of blood that fell from the small creature.

"I believe you have taken a liking to him then?" Kyle continued his torment of the raccoon, blood rushed down his hand falling to the ground; a small puddle forming.

Klarissa played in the blood as a child would with finger paint. "Not a liking Kyle? More of an interest. I think he cares for the blond. I don't like that."

"Why does that bother you?" Kyle reached his hand around the faintly moving raccoon's neck tightening his grip * SNAP! * a single last convulsion and the creature hung swinging gently back and forth it pain no longer. Kyle turned away to clean his stained blade.

"No matter, we will play a long game with him then, just for you." Smiling he gripped her hair tightly in his hand pulling her in a passionate blood stained kiss.

If you like it let me know what? R/R