Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I just finished chapter 12 and still am not sure how long this story will be yet! I'm guessing 15-17 maybe?? I never quite know it seems! :) Here is chapter three for you, I think this one is again slow-moving. I went a little overboard with the descriptions again. :) But after this, it will finally begin to pick up, and things will quickly escalate for them. Also, as a side note, I started this series before the finale aired, so in this AU, the finale never happened. Also, I am not a botanist or a scientist, so please forgive the gross inaccuracies. I plead the fact that this is Sci-Fi. Thank you so much everyone for your comments and feedback. It means so much to me, and I cannot thank you enough!
Things More Beautiful—Chapter Three
"Shalimar, wake up, it's almost nine o'clock."
Shalimar opened her eyes wide and stared up at Brennan. "Are we on the helix?"
With amusement, Brennan smiled down at her, bending over and pressing a lingering kiss on her upturned mouth. "You're still asleep, Shal." He brushed hair back off her forehead as her eyes struggled to focus. "We're on the island, remember."
Shalimar blinked, eyes dull with sleep stupor, watching as Brennan's face swarmed into view. Sitting up, she stretched and yawned achingly. "What time is it?"
"Almost nine."
Shalimar blinked.
"Are you awake now?"
"I think so. I thought I was on the helix." She looked around in confusion, jaw popping as she yawned again.
"Well, you're not." He sat down next to her, pushing strands of tangled hair behind her ear, smiling at her as she struggled to wake up. Mornings were never her strong suit. "You're still in bed, and you're wanting to get up and get dressed."
"I am?"
"Well, after you kiss me."
She grinned, eyes finally focusing properly as she lifted her hands to frame his face. He hadn't shaved yet, and she loved the tactile feel of stumble beneath her fingers. It gave him a roguish look, and her heart quickened as she drew him down with her, lips closing over his, ardent and hungry. She heard him release an affecting groan, arms settling on either side around her as he finally pulled back, forehead resting on hers as he breathed heavily.
"Wow." He finally spoke. "I'll have to wake you up every morning."
"Don't you dare." Her eyes flashed at the thought, but his grin only widened. Damn, the man was sexy. Her fingers curled into his hair, pulling him down for another kiss.
"Shal," he mumbled, struggling to remember why he had woken her in the first place, "We're going to be late for our meeting."
"Hmm." Her hands slid languishly, suggestively down his chest.
"Never mind," He rasped, changing his mind as he suddenly rolled them, eyes burning almost black with desire. "The Dominion can wait."
The sun was high in the morning sky by the time they showed up at the office of one Dr. Luka Green. They knocked on the partially open door, surprised when it suddenly flew open and a wiry, little man in his late 40's brushed past them, walking rapidly in the direction they had just come.
"You're late," he addressed them over his shoulder as he hefted a pack higher on his back. "We need to hurry."
Shalimar lifted her eyebrows, exchanging looks with Brennan before following after the scientist.
"I'm Brennan, by the way," Brennan volunteered as he trotted up beside the man, falling into step beside him as they walked outside.
"And she's Shalimar, I know." The man drew up to stop in front of a storage shed. Brennan and Shalimar glanced at each other again as he pried a door open and disappeared inside.
"Ok then." Shalimar wryly shook her head, a small smile on her lips. "Friendly guy, isn't he?"
"Maybe it would help if you explained to him why we're late."
She shoved an elbow into Brennan's smirking side just as the doctor reappeared, carrying more packs.
"Carry these." He briskly commanded, dropping the bags at their feet. "And hurry."
Shalimar watched him with an amused smile as he scurried ahead of them. "How long do you think he can keep up that pace?"
"Guess we'll find out." Brennan bent over and picked up both packs, slinging one over her shoulder when she pointedly cleared her throat. "You heard the man," he grinned, swatting at her backside as he started forward, "Hurry."
She snorted under her breath and followed after them, taking note of two other men that emerged from the building and joined their little ensemble. Just one thing missing, she mused to herself, catching up with Brennan just as a high pitched yapping sound filled the air and Chester dashed up beside them. I take that back. She rolled her eyes as Brennan bent down long enough to pat the dog on the top of the head. It was going to be an interesting group.
When they said the trail wasn't accessible by air, they hadn't been kidding, Shalimar conceded several hours later, blowing a damp strand of hair out of her eyes as they paused to hack at thick brush that weaved almost magically from tree to tree, creating a dense web of tangled vine. They all took turns in front, and Brennan was currently at the head, grunting as he swung the curved knife back and forth, steadily carving a path for them step by step. As the day wore on, the ground beneath their feet turned dry and cracked, ancient fissures running deep into the earth. Some were so deep that Chester struggled to jump from one to the next, little legs scrambling to push herself over whenever her belly weighed her down on the top edges of the cracks. Shalimar had to admit, the dog had heart.
Even though he was ahead of her, feral hearing easily allowed her to distinguish Brennan's voice from the others as he mumbled under his breath, muscles bulging and straining as he hit a particularly thick and stubborn vine. Despite his obvious misery, he looked sure and confident of himself, and her heart swelled with pride at the strength and virility he exuded. The sight also served to make her feel quite territorial, and she guarded them fiercely from as yet unseen dangers, eyes flashing at every little sound in the surrounding jungle. She could sense beasts of all sorts around them, some watching and some scattering as they picked their way up the mountain, and she growled lowly in her throat, challenging and threatening them alike. Only Chester could hear her warnings, and the little dog would add her own little huff at the end of every warning.
"Hey, Doc," Brennan's voice drifted back to her, "Want to tell us what we're after here exactly?"
She watched as the doctor signaled for them to stop and take a break. He squatted down on his heels, zipping open his bag and pulling out a canteen, taking a deep draught before wiping his mouth and lifting his eyes to Brennan's, who still stood waiting for an answer.
There was a heavy pause. "Stabilization," The man finally replied, tone unrecognizable.
Brennan's eyes widened.
"Thought that would get your interest," he gestured with his chin for Brennan to join him. Brennan nodded to Shalimar who stood guard on the outskirts of their little group before sitting down on the ground next to him. He knew she could hear every word.
"Taste this." The doctor handed the canteen to Brennan.
Brennan hesitated for a moment, sniffing the contents before taking a sip. "Whoa!" He spit the mixture out.
"Kava." The doctor smiled slightly. "A local favorite."
"What's in it?" Brennan cautiously took another sip, this time prepared for the bitter, peppery taste. "Not bad," he decided after a moment, eyes watering.
The doctor smirked. "It's made from the ground root of a native plant. It's been made for millennia." He waved his hands into the air. "But only recently have we discovered a new, more resistant strain growing higher up the mountain."
"I thought nothing survived on a volcano?" Brennan raised his eyebrows.
"Nothing does, inside, but up there," he nodded towards the crater, "Is a plant that defies science, hovering on the edge of hell and flourishing."
"What's it do?" Shalimar joined the conversation from her post a few yards away.
"I've learned to make a serum out of it, one that stabilizes mutancy." The man turned appraising eyes on her. "What would you give to finally be stabilized? To not have to fear your body someday tearing itself apart?"
Shalimar shifted uneasily as his eyes bore into hers. "I would give almost anything." She answered cautiously, eyes studying him.
"Good." He shoved the canteen back into his pack. "Keep that in mind when guarding us." He stood to his feet, knees cracking. "There are others out there that would kill for this knowledge."
Without another word, he started forward and one of the other men followed after him, drawing his curved knife out of it scabbard slung across his body and moving to the front position.
"Dr. Green?" Brennan called after him as Shalimar stepped up beside him.
"Luka," The man replied, not looking back.
"Luka," Brennan amended. "How far to this plant?"
"Two days." The answer came out in a grunt as he ducked under a tree fern.
Shalimar laughed at the grimace on Brennan's face. She patted his chest sympathetically. "How're you doing?"
"How do you think?" Brennan grumbled, blinking at the sweat dripping into his eyes.
"Stabilization, Brennan." Her hands pressed against his chest, "You think it's possible?"
He smiled at the faint hope on her face, running a finger down her cheek. "If there's even a chance, we have to try."
She leaned into his touch. "We should have Jesse research this plant, see if what he's saying is even possible." Her eyes darkened momentarily. "I'll never trust what the Dominion says at face value ever again."
Brennan nodded; thumb brushing across her lips, smiling as she gently kissed it. "Hey Jesse?" He called into his activated ring.
There was no answer.
"Jesse?" He tried again.
Shalimar frowned, trying her own ring with no response. "That's strange." She narrowed her eyes at the figures ahead of them. "What did they do?"
"Relax, Shal," Brennan tried to reassure her, "We're probably just out of range, but we'll keep an eye on them just in case, ok?" His hands rubbed up and down her arms in a tender gesture until she nodded in agreement.
"Let's go!" Luka's voice loudly reprimanded them.
"You heard the man," Shalimar resolutely straightened her shoulders, strengthening her mind. "Let's go."
Feeling strong with Brennan beside her, she closed her eyes and took long, deep breaths. The scent of ginger, sweet yet tangy, refreshed her, the distant smell of the ocean, the salty wind, the briny undertaste, the sleepy susurration of gentle waves on still sand lulled her as she walked. But what's that…faint smell…just a whiff—
Shalimar sniffed, her eyes pressed tightly closed. Just a breath of something...What is that smell? I know it! She shook her head as they continued to walk, finally pushing the bothersome thought to the back of her mind.
It was carried on the constant trade winds, sweeping down from the ancient craters above. It was gas, released under great pressure and tremendous heat, from a mineral that was sometimes used medicinally. It was sulphur.
That night, they camped out in the open. Shalimar slept hard, heavily, unmoving, on a pallet in front of a dying fire. Brennan slept next to her, and Luka and another man lay across the fire. The night was completely silent. Though they didn't see, a ghostly gray mist floated in, creeping over and under vegetation. As it wandered closer to the fire, it dissipated; but still more and more of the thin wraith's breath crept around them.
Above them, the stars were suddenly blanked, as if a black shade had been pulled over the sky. Far below, there was a rumble, a grumble, but it was so remote that not even Shalimar stirred.
Cloaked in the mist, two figures stood whispering, arms gesturing in silent argument before something was finally exchanged between them. For just a moment flames crackled between the shadows, and one backed slowly away. The other stood frozen, watching, before turning abruptly back towards camp.
Like a stalking lion, the faint roar sounded again, closer, higher up the slopes of the mountain.
And around the fire, they slept on.