Chapter 20

    "Where's Aurora?" Brennan asked Jesse as they were playing a game of basketball.

    "Getting her injuries cleaned up,"

     "Can I ask you something Jess?" Brennan asked.

    "Sure, what is it?" said Jesse while dribbling the ball.

    "Is there something going on between you and my sister?"

    "Why do you ask?" Jesse asked, trying to avoid answering Brennan's question.

    "You to seemed pretty close today." Brennan stole the ball from Jesse and sunk the ball in the basket.

    "We were getting to know each other.  But, nothing happened," Jesse lied.  Jesse checked the ball, dribbled past Brennan, and sunk the ball in the basket.

    "I must be reading into it too much.  It would be too weird having my best friend dating my sister though.  No matter how much she hates me," Brennan said, holding the ball.

    "She doesn't hate you Brennan, she just feels betrayed by what you did to her and her friend in the past.  And even if she says she doesn't care, she does.  She's the kind of person who has a hard time forgiving people.  And letting go"

    "Did she tell you that?"

    "No, I could just tell.  She's really got a great personality if you try to get to know her."

 "You're right.  I want this rift between us gone, and I think I know how."  Brennan threw the ball and made another basket.  "I win."  They gave each other a high five. "I'll see ya later Jesse," he said as he ran off towards his room.

    "Yeah, but remember, Adam has an announcement he wants to make!" yelled Jesse.

    "Okay!" said Brennan as he entered his room and closed the door behind him.

    "I'm fine," said Aurora who was sitting in the main lab in Sanctuary.  "I wasn't hurt too badly, so can I go now?"

    "Not just yet, wait a few minutes," said Emma.  She was cleaning Aurora's cuts and bruises and bandaging them up.

    "You seem better," said Shalimar, who had just walked in the door.

    "Yeah, that's what I keep telling Emma and Adam.  But, they're being insistent on running tests to make sure."

"Where is Adam?" asked Shalimar.

    "I'm right here," he said as he came into view from behind a computer.  He walked over while holding Aurora's test results.  "From the looks of things," he said looking at the tests," you have a few bruised ribs.  Other then than that, you're fine.  Emma, will you rap bandages around Aurora's ribs?"

    "I'm already ahead of you," she said as she picked up more bandages.

    "While you're at it, can you get this subdermal governor off my neck please?" Aurora asked.

    "Of coarse," said Adam.  He walked over and took off the subdermal governor.

    "Ow," Aurora said in pain as she rubbed the back off her neck.

    " Sorry.  I'll leave so you can finish up.  Shalimar, will you help me with something?" Adam asked, being very vague.

    "Sure," said Shalimar who was smiling and they left the room.

    "Why do I have a feeling they no something I don't," said Aurora who lifted up her shirt.

    "I don't know," said Emma as she wrapped the bandages around her ribs trying to look clueless even though she knew exactly what was going on.  Aurora winced a couple times.  "Are you okay?" asked Emma as she bandaged Aurora's ribs.

    "It just hurts a little," said Aurora.

    "How's your friend Gabriel?"

    "He's ok.  He's really confused about what happened today."

    "Well, I'm done," said Emma as she finished.

    "Good."  Aurora stood up and walked towards the door.  "I kind of need to talk to Brennan." Aurora left the lab.

    "I'm impressed," said Shalimar, standing in the doorway of Brennan's room.

    "Of what?" Brennan asked as he searched through his room for something.

    "I'm impressed of how you handled everything today.  You know, with your sister.  It couldn't have been easy seeing her after all you two have been through."

    "Yeah, its not.  But all I want to do is make amends.  Aurora has been alone too long.  I want to be the big brother I should have been years ago."

    Shalimar nodded in understanding.  "What are you looking for?" she asked as she entered his room.

    "Something for Aurora.  Something I found that she will really like.  It's a surprise so I can't tell you. Ah!  Here it is," said Brennan as he found a small black box and put it in his pocket.  "I gotta see Aurora."  Brennan walked passed Shalimar and out of the room.

    "Don't forget about later!" Shalimar called after him.

    "I know," Brennan answered back as he went to find his sister.