Eleven


"Do you really think we should be taking him along?" Brennan's voice, although lowered in partial deference to the feelings of the subject of his question, still clearly conveyed his doubts to those nearby.

Shalimar looked up from the monitor where she was making some final checks for the mission they were about to go out on, and frowned. "Why not?

"Why not? Shal, have you forgotten what happened the last time we were all on a job together? You nearly got wasted!"

"That was then. Things are different now."

"You think? He may be physically fit enough, but mentally? I'm not sure he's ready."

"He's ready."

"What makes you so certain? I mean, what if he goes all 'no powers' on us again? It wasn't that long ago that he chose to take a bullet rather than mass - doesn't that seem at all screwed up to you?"

"But his first instinct was to protect that boy," she protested. "And he did. That's enough for me."

"Oh, come on! He just got lucky. The slug could have gone straight through him and taken the kid out too. What's to say that couldn't happen with one of us if he loses his nerve, can't do the right thing when he needs to, not even to save himself."

"It's not going to happen," she said firmly, her expression telling him clearly this one wasn't open for discussion. He couldn't let it go, though, without a parting shot.

"I'd have thought you'd have learnt by now that blind faith is no substitute for cold hard proof."

She advanced on him to stand with hands on hips, glaring up at him. "You know so much? OK, so go find out for yourself. Try him!"

"I might just do that..."

Alone at the hanger's computer terminal, Jesse finished the remote checks he was running on the Helix's systems and paused for a few moments to do the same for himself. His injury had healed well, and he'd come through his last simulated combat session with no ill effects, aside from a few expected bruises. Of course, simulations weren't the same as real life, a problem he'd struggled with on and off over the years - hard to take them seriously, or see the outcome as truly meaningful, and he knew he really needed to test himself in a proper life or death situation to be sure all was well. Which was probably what accounted for the fluttering in his stomach at the prospect of what lay ahead of them today.

He pushed himself away from the workbench and turned towards the plane, opening his mouth to ask the others what was keeping them. He didn't get that far, though. From behind him somewhere came a quiet, "Hey," followed immediately by the familiar 'phtt' and sizzle of a tesla coil in the making.

Although rationally he knew who it had to be, he was already instinctively exhaling as he turned to face the source of the potential threat - and luckily so. The twin bolts of lightning zapping his way passed harmlessly through his phased form and impacted with less force than he'd expected against the wall behind him. A warning shot, then, not the full power variety, but that didn't stop the indignation rising through him in a raging flood.

"What the hell was that for?" he demanded of the bulky shadow standing in the hanger doorway, not quite obscuring the two grinning figures lurking behind him.

"Just giving you a pre-mission shakedown," Brennan answered blithely, ambling across the room towards him. As he drew near he raised a hand with palm out, inviting a responding high five from the Jesse that, after a fleeting hesitation, he got. "Welcome back, bro. Wanted to be sure you were firing on all cylinders again before we hit the big time out there, but looks like everything's working just fine."

For just a moment he thought the molecular was going to lay into him, but he was relieved to see the anger drain from the taut body and the lips twist into a self-deprecating grin. "Yeah, I guess it is."

"Way to go, man," the big man grinned back. "So... let's get this show on the road, then!" Patting his team mate on the shoulder, he moved off towards the plane as the two women who'd been hanging back watching came fully into the room.

"Knew you'd have it covered," Shalimar murmured as she passed Jesse, her fingers wrapping round his for a few seconds in a warm affectionate grasp. And Emma, following on behind, just smiled her secret smile, but he could feel the waves of approval and support she was projecting.

He stood and watched them disappear on board, expression strangely neutral, until Shalimar popped her head out of the hatch to ask quizzically, "You with us, Jess? Any problems?"

There was only the barest delay, almost unnoticeable, before he smiled back. "No, I'm with you."

With a nod of relieved acceptance she was gone again, leaving only the empty hanger to hear him add softly, "Like I never left," as he went to join her and the rest of his team.


THE END