"Okay, here's what I did," Jesse says when every body has entered into the main room. "I cross-referenced Private Davenport's photo with all the passport identifications and found a match. It seems Davenport is going by the alias Le Duex and Le Duex has checked into a motel on McKinley Street."
"Great job Jess," Adam says to him.
"Right now it is almost five o' clock if we want to avoid looking conspicuous we should leave in two hours."
"In two hours? Adam we found him we should nab him while the getting's good," Brennan protests.
"I know you want to just hurry in there and get him, but you need to understand it's rush hour right now. Everybody is driving home from work. Since we aren't police officers it's going to look suspicious to all the people driving by. We don't need the attention right now."
Brennan starts opening his mouth again.
"Two hours," Adam says one more time. "Until then would you find an identifying mark on Davenport's body we can identify him by. It would be really bad if we apprehended the wrong guy."
"Fine," Brennan says giving up.
He returns to the computer.
Two hours later Shalimar heads for Emma's room.
"Emma?" She calls as she knocks softly.
"Yeah?" Emma answers.
"We found where he is. We're going to go catch him now." Shalimar stares at Emma's face trying to read its reaction, but she can't decrypt anything yet. " Adam and I think it's best if you stay here."
"Okay," Emma says nodding her head slowly.
Shalimar stares at her for another second. Emma is finally up and moving. Right now she is on her bed with her legs crossed, reading a book. Her face has such a mixture of emotions Shalimar isn't sure which one radiates the most. She sees hurt, anger, frustration and compassion all in one. Shalimar isn't sure if they're going to solve Emma's problems by capturing Davenport or just make them worse. She knows there is only one way to find out.
After about ten minutes in her room re-reading the same paragraph in her book, Emma figures she'll watch the others leave.
"We'll be back soon Emma," Brennan says, touching her crossed arms after Emma makes her way to the living room.
Emma gives a weak smile and nods. She watches as everyone, but Adam pile up into the Double Helix. When they all leave Adam goes back to the lab. Emma returns back to her room.
An hour later Brennan returns to sanctuary full of rage.
"We lost him Adam," he says his fists clinched tight. "We just got there and he had already packed and left." By this time he was angrily pacing back and forth.
"Did he leave anything behind," Adam asks calmly, hoping Brennan will follow suit.
"Yep," Jesse answers, "A T-Shirt and a teddy bear." He holds each up as proof
"A teddy bear?" Adam asks in confusion.
"Yeah go figure," Brennan says irately.
Emma sits down on a big leather chair in the living room. Nobody acknowledges her presence. She remains watching the four argue in front of her.
"Well how much do we know about this guy?" Shalimar asks.
"Besides the fact that he's been working in the army for two and a half years. He was a great soldier, got great reports until one day he decides to bail out on the war with Iraq. While carrying out a secret military asset. Oh yeah, and get this he's French."
Brennan has worked himself up in a rage. His team fears there was no calming him down.
"Another reason to hate France." Emma says sarcastically.
"Maybe it is," Brennan snaps at her.
"Brennan!" Everyone, but Emma says in unison, shocked by his discriminatory comment.
"Brennan this isn't fair," Emma, pipes up, "I know what happened between you and private Matthews, but you can't take it out on Davenport."
Emma stands up letting Brennan know she means business.
What Brennan does next is so out of his character it shocks everybody. Fueled by anger and hatred, Brennan grabs Emma's arm tightly and more or less drags her out of the room. Emma cries out softly from the pain in her arm, but Brennan ignores it and keeps walking her toward her room. When he gets in there he shuts the door hard and forces her to sit down.
"How did you know about Matthews," he demands loudly, about three inches from her face.
Brennan begins pacing again. He is pacing faster and starting to get breathless. He's working hard on self-control not to lash out at something or someone, especially Emma.
"You remember your cousin Maria you introduced me to when you two bumped into each other at the bar?"
"Yeah," Brennan answers trying not to sound impatient.
"I ran into her again while I was shopping. We were both hungry so we decided to go to the food court. Some how our conversation turned to the military and she told me about everything," Emma finishes.
Emma is trembling. More so because of the fact that Brennan's anger is scaring her than she is picking up on his strong waves of emotions. She places her elbows on her knees and rests her head in her hands in an attempt to calm herself down.
"Damn it," Brennan says angrily.
He clinches his fist to hit something, but remembers he's in Emma's room. He turns around fast when he hears the door open. Shalimar is standing there. Her hand gestures the others to join her. Brennan had obviously taken off so fast with Emma they had to search each room before they could determine which he was in.
Shalimar walks past Brennan like he isn't there. She sits down by her visibly shaken friend and wraps her arm around her. When Adam gets one glance at Emma's trembling form and a bruise starting to form on her upper arm, he turns to Brennan.
"Walk with me," he says and grabs Brennan by the side of the collar.
Brennan knows he's already in for it, so he decides not to mention that that is his favorite shirt. Adam lets go of his shirt once he leaves Emma's room. After they pass the hallway Adam stops walking and turns to Brennan. Brennan gulps in his mind the look from Adam's green eyes tells him he's going to get it bad.
Adam crosses his arms in an attempt not to let all his emotions out and scream at Brennan.
"Brennan, if I ever see you grab Emma or any one of your team mates out of anger like that again, you will be out of here so fast it will make your head spin."
The tone at which Adam spoke was so calm, cool and yet serious. It makes Brennan more afraid then if Adam had yelled in his face. Brennan begins to open his mouth to explain, but Adam put his hand up to stop him. Brennan is grateful, because he isn't sure what he would've said given the opportunity.
"Now, I want you to go to the dojo and I don't want to see you for two hours. Am I understood?"
Adam's eyes never left Brennan's. Brennan mechanically nods his head, but continues to stare at Adam amazed by his self-control he has never known with his stepfather.
"You're still here," Adam reminds him.
Brennan stares at his father figure for another half second then jogs to the dojo.
Adam lets out a trapped breath after he sees Brennan jog off. His head is pounding. He much rather have just strangled him, but when he saw the admiration in Brennan's eyes towards him it was completely worth it.
Adam walks over to Emma's room. Shalimar is still holding her. Jesse has pulled up a chair in front of her. They are both talking her down from her panicky state. Adam makes his way over to her to check her arm. He lifts her right sleeve, but Emma protests.
"No," Emma moans and leans closer into Shalimar.
Emma is too worn down for more attention. Shalimar kisses the back of Emma's head as Adam pulls her sleeve the rest of the way up.
"You need to put some ice on that to keep the swelling down," Adam tells her.
"I'll get it," Jesse volunteers and leaves.
Adam looks at Emma, her head and shoulders are hanging down limply. Shalimar is still holding her close and speaking in a soothing tone. Adam bends down and takes Emma's face in his hands. He looks directly into her blood shot blue eyes.
"Are you going to be okay?" he asks.
Emma nods her head weakly.
"Try to get some rest," he says to her, but glances at Shalimar hoping she'll take the hint to help her.
Adam leaves Emma's room. Jesse has been waiting for him.
"You know this doesn't make much sense," he tells Adam.
"What doesn't?"
"This whole Davenport situation. I mean he stole a military asset. Emphasis on the word asset, not a weapon. The news stations haven't even made note that he stole anything. They are just saying 'capture Davenport and bring justice'. Many soldiers have gone AWOL from many wars, but they were never put on national television. What I'm wondering is what could be so valuable to the government that they're spending so much time on this one guy?"
"I wish I could answer that Jesse. I'm going to call General McMahon and try to get some more back round info on this guy. If that military asset is so valuable as you say, then perhaps Davenport will try to ransom it."
Jesse finished getting the ice pack for Emma.
"Will she be okay?" Jesse asks referring to Emma.
"I think she's just worn thin emotionally. Also starting to get fed up with all the attention. So don't be surprised if she refuses treatment. Just give her some space."
Adam takes a deep breath and leans backwards against the kitchen counter. He rests his head against a cabinet and stares off into nowhere. Jesse knows he is concerned not only for Emma, but Brennan too. Jesse can't think of anything comforting to say, so he pats Adam on the shoulder before leaving for Emma's room.
When he gets there Emma is laying down. Her eyes are open, but she looks to be asleep. Shalimar is stroking her hair talking about nothing. Emma is half listening. Jesse goes to her right side and looks at her upper arm. It is already beginning to swell. He puts the ice pack on her, but just like Adam warned she jerked her arm away. Shalimar continues to speak to her and stroke her hair, but she gives Jesse a look that says 'help her'. Jesse brushes Emma's cheek with the back of his hand then puts the ice pack on her arm. Emma stays dormant this time.
"Just five minutes honey, we'll leave you alone now," Jesse tells her while giving Shalimar's shoulder a slight push so she will take the hint.
Jesse gets up and waits for Shal to join him. Being escorted out of Emma's room again gives her the feeling of de ja vu.
"What's the word with Davenport?" General McMahon asks.
General McMahon is a skinny African American who looks like Morgan Freeman. Only he has shorter hair, a bigger nose and an extremely stoic face.
"My team traced him down to a hotel in the city. By the time they got there he packed up and left," Adam answers.
"Adam, I hope I don't have to remind you how important his capture is. We are counting on you to do this and let us know the minute he is in your custody."
"And you know we will. Until then can you tell me if he's tried to ransom this asset he has stolen? We could probably track him down through phone calls he has made."
"He hasn't tried to contact us in any way."
"Then can you tell me more about this asset? I want to know if I should send my team in with caution or not."
"That information is classified and you know it."
"Fine then, we'll start searching for him first thing in the morning."
McMahon opens his mouth to speak, but Adam turns off the screen.
Adam hears Brennan's heavy breathing from the dojo. It has been an hour and a half since he has been in there. At first Brennan liked beating the crap out of the holograms. Now he was exhausted and lethargic not to mention dehydrated. A couple minutes later the holograms turns off. He looks over to see Adam holding a big bottle of water and a towel. Brennan eagerly grabs both. Brennan goes over to the dojo stairs and practically falls down; he is so relieved to get off his feet. He gulps down half the water bottle in a matter of seconds. After wiping off his sweat he turns to Adam who has seated himself by his side.
"I'm sorry Adam. I don't know what came over me," he says sincerely yet breathlessly.
"It's not me you should be apologizing to."
"I know," he says, "but I don't think she wants to see me right now. Or ever for that matter."
When Brennan's breathing becomes easier Adam asks the question that had been on everyone's minds.
"So, you going to tell me about Matthews?"
Brennan nods his head and takes a deep breath.
