Disclaimer—See Chapter One

A/N: Only three more chapters left after this one! Thank you again so much for all your feedback and comments, I cannot tell you enough how much it means to me! Thank you!

Things Best Known—Chapter Fourteen

Time seemed to hold its place for a few frozen moments, and then all broke loose. One second he was there, and the next he was gone.

Even though Brennan caught enough to realize it hadn't really been Jesse kissing Shalimar, the shock and anger from the sight still coursed through his veins, and it took him a moment to adjust emotions. He blinked, and became aware of Shalimar moving forward, of Jesse lying on the floor and bleeding.

"What the hell happened?"

Jesse's voice finally stirred him to action, and he sprang forward to help Shalimar as she knelt down beside him.

"You just met Steven," Shalimar dryly commented, tongue clicking in anger as she took in Jesse's bloodied nose.

Jesse shook his head. "One minute I was in the bathroom, and the next I heard Brennan screaming my name as I woke up on the floor."

Shalimar shot Brennan a quick glance, but he gave his head an imperceptible shake. Later, his eyes seemed to read.

"Are you ok?" Shalimar pulled Jesse's hands away from his nose and gently prodded it.

His breath hissed in pain, but he stood still, allowing her to examine him.

"Well, it's not broken," She finally decided.

"Here, Jess." Brennan spoke for the first time, handing over some ice he pulled from the kitchenette.

Jesse sank onto the bed, wincing. "Now what?" His voice was muffled behind the ice pack.

Brennan stared at Shalimar, gauging her reaction. "You guys need to get out of here."

"No." Shalimar's voice was firm. She sighed as Brennan whirled around, hitting the wall in frustration. She met Jesse's eyes, and he instantly stood up.

"I ah, I think I'll just go clean up," he hedged, hastily disappearing into the bathroom and closing the door behind him.

The room was quiet.

"Brennan," Shalimar came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head against his taunt back. "I know what's going on." Her voice was whisper soft. "Jesse told me everything."

She felt him suck in a deep breath, and her heart broke as she felt the tension and pain in his body. "I'm so sorry."

He groaned at her words, turning around and desperately pulling her into his arms. "I can't risk it, Shal. I know you want to help, but you've seen what he can do." His voice rose. "That's twice now he's had you. He's playing with us."

Despite his words, she felt calm, overwhelmed only by the intensity of emotions she felt in him. He had no fear for himself, only for her. She understood the feeling only too well.

She tightened her hold around his waist, laying her head against his chest. She smiled as she felt his nose bury into her hair, and his heartbeat beneath her cheek slowly return to normal.

"We'll make it through this, Bren." She whispered in confidence. "You've been through so much for me already. I promise you, it will not have been for nothing. I won't let it be."

He pulled back and cupped her cheeks, searching her. She met his gaze, eyes burning with determination.

"You understand what's going on here, Shal?"

"I do."

The struggle within played across his features for long moments. She waited, watching. Finally, he broke into a wry smile.

"We've got a psychotic mutant killer after us, a dead body to explain, and Dominion agents set to swarm over this place in a few hours. I suppose I could use some help."

She chuckled in relief. "Always."

His head shook in amazement of her, and he leaned down, kissing her tenderly.

"Ahem." Jesse pointedly cleared his throat behind them. They reluctantly broke away and turned toward him.

"Well, well," he waggled his brows at them, "It's about time you finally get up the nerve to kiss each other." His wide smirk faltered a moment later when he felt a small shock hit his foot and jolt up his leg. "Hey!"

Brennan grinned, blowing sparks off his pointed finger and pulling Shalimar back into his arms. "That'll teach you not to interrupt," he spoke to Jesse, eyes locked on Shalimar's lips.

She laughed, arms twining around his neck for another kiss.

"Oh come on," Jesse protested. He waited. "Seriously. Shal, I need to remove that tracker."

At his words, Brennan raised his head, keeping Shalimar firmly at his side. "You can do that?"

"Yeah." Jesse walked across the room, picking up a bag that had landed on the side of the bed when he phased through the roof. "I found the specs in Lexa's files."

"They told us it was permanent." Brennan's voice was hard.

"Not for me." Jesse indicated to Shalimar to sit on the bed, padding into the bathroom and returning with a towel.

"Shal," He knelt down in front of her. "This is going to hurt. I really should do this back at Sanctuary, under proper conditions."

"No," she shook her head. "There's not enough time." Her hand landed on Jesse's shoulder as he hesitated. "It's ok, Jess."

He nodded quickly, rising to his feet. His eyes drew Brennan forward. "Hold her," He instructed under his breath.

Brennan paled and dropped beside her. Her expression told him she had heard, and she smiled reassuringly at him, allowing him to grasp her hands.

Jesse worked as fast as he could, slicing into the tender skin at the back of her neck and digging in with surgical tweezers.

The tiny device was deeper than he anticipated, and he swore under his breath as he saw a single tear run down Shalimar's face. She made no sound as he searched, and Brennan tore his eyes from her face to plead with Jesse. Hurry.

Another long moment passed and Jesse let out a triumphant exclamation, dropping the tracker into a shallow jar and clamping gauze over her neck.

She released a shuddering breath and slumped forward in relief. "That wasn't so bad."

Brennan and Jesse stared at her in disbelief.

"What?" She fingered the back of her neck as Jesse finished cleaning and bandaging the area.

"When did they implant that thing anyway?" Brennan still hadn't released his hold on Shalimar. "You don't think Lexa—"

"No." Jesse's voice dared him to finish the thought.

Shalimar ignored them, reaching out and picking up the tiny tracker, rolling it lightly between her fingers. "I have an idea." She turned bright eyes up to them, interrupting their argument. "You both need to leave, and I have to surrender to Steven."

"What??" Both of them spoke at once.

She held up a hand, a small smile playing around her mouth. "What has history taught us? When you have a seemingly formidable enemy, you outsmart him, get him to let down his guard and bring you into his world. And then you attack back when he least expects it."

"What are you talking about?" Brennan eyed her doubtfully.

"The classic tale of the Trojan horse." She wiggled her ring finger, comlink flashing in the light. "He is our Trojan, and this is our horse."

"The element of surprise," Jesse chewed on his bottom lip, thinking.

"Exactly." Shalimar looked from one to the other. "We make Steven think I'm surrendering in exchange for allowing you to leave."

Jesse nodded, understanding. "He brings you to his hideout, and we track you there. He thinks he's got you, he will not be so careful, and then we lead the Dominion right to his doorstep."

"No," Brennan shook his head. "No way. You're forgetting the Dominion doesn't give a damn whether Shalimar lives or dies in this thing."

Shalimar placed a hand on Brennan's chest. "That'll be your job. Let the Dominion worry about Steven, you come get me."

Brennan's eyes softened as he looked down at her. "He's a psionic. He'll read you."

"Actually," Jesse spoke up, "He's an empath, he'll only sense her emotions. He's got other abilities, but he can't directly read people."

"Except through touch." Brennan raised his eyebrows.

They were silent, looking at one another.

"It could work," Jesse finally ventured to say.

"It's too dangerous for Shalimar." Brennan crossed his arms. "There has to be another way."

"Like what?" Shalimar challenged him. "Come on, Brennan, you'll be right behind me. He won't have time to try anything."

Brennan stared hard at Shalimar, before finally groaning, hand rubbing his temple.

Shalimar smiled. "Ok then, we've all agreed."

Evening shadows fell long across the sky as Shalimar stumbled forward a few hours later. Blind-folded, her senses were confused, but she could smell the arrogance and lust rolling off her captor as he prodded her forward. She kept her mind purposely blank, determined to follow this plan through. Her heart pounded with a mix of fear and adrenaline, and she flinched as he stroked her upper arm with his thumb, fist closed around her arm as he dragged her forward. His fingers dug into her flesh with bruising strength, and she gasped against her will. He chuckled lowly in his throat, and she hated him. Read those thoughts, you bastard.

Finally, he pulled her to a stop, and she heard the creaking sound of a rusty door being opened. They went down a few steep steps, and then he suddenly released her. She counted his footsteps as he backed away, waiting until her ears could no longer pick him up, and then wasted no time in snapping the cords that bound her hands. She reached up and pulled off the blindfold, eyes blinking rapidly as they adjusted to the dim light. Her lips curved up into a slow smile as she fingered the cool metal of her ring. He had fallen for it.

By the time he returned, the moon had risen high in the night sky, its beams glowing dimly through small cracks in the roughly-hewn walls. She heard his footsteps moments before the door creaked open. He seemed undisturbed by her removal of her bonds; he just smiled and grabbed her arm, leading her up the stairs. He didn't say a word, and she followed, confident in her plan. They walked across a dry, dusty yard and into an old farmhouse. She made a quick study of the area before he jerked her up a rotting porch and into the house.

A familiar smell hit her senses, and she stopped in shock. His face split into a knowing smile as he drank in her ragged emotion; her greatest fears being realized at the sight of a man chained with both hands and feet to the back wall, dark head held deliberately high as he sought out her gaze.

Brennan, her heart cried out.