Disclaimer—See Chapter One

A/N: My computer is dying on me and my new one won't arrive for about two weeks, so if I suddenly disappear, you'll know why! :) But thank you so much to those that reviewed, I'm so glad to know you're still with me! It's hard to keep interest in a sequel, so I appreciate your comments so much! CatJerica, Fiery Feral--you brought a smile to my face, thank you! Blackpanther--welcome back! Mayra--keep reading and you'll slowly find out more! :) And yes, I did spend many hours reading about this island, so thank you for noticing! Melodie and Kerry, thank you!! I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Anyway, I am rambling, so here is chapter 5 for you. Thank you!

Things More Beautiful—Chapter Five

One thought pounded in her brain over and over again. They were clutched in the jaws of a terrible beast that was playing with them. At any moment, it could open wide and swallow them whole. She looked at the ground fearfully; every crack an evil grin on this monster, whose two smoldering eyes burned red with anger high above them. She had never felt this way about nature before. It had been the one thing she had always trusted. Not anymore.

"Minor earthquake," Luka had reassured them, caring more that the content within his pack was still safe and intact. Brennan had been the next one of them to recover from the shock. He had released his hold on Shalimar, hearing the other men screaming in agony for the first time as the earth was again silent.

"Fire," Shalimar had whispered, eyes glued on the writhing men. She had watched, fist shoved in her mouth, as Brennan yanked blankets from his pack and beat the flames out of the rolling men.

Both had died. Shalimar cringed as she remembered, sick to her stomach at the sight, the smell. The mutant had known exactly what he was doing. He was aiming to kill.

They were walking back now, and her eyes darted jerkily around, on high alert for danger. To have the earth turn on them at the same moment they were being stalked by a fire mutant…she shuddered, uneasy, pausing when she realized Brennan had stopped walking. He was looking at the tops of the cinder cones. Shading her eyes, she followed his line of vision, wondering what he was staring at.

They stood motionless for long moments, and then Shalimar muttered, "I see it."

Brennan stepped nearer. "Do you? It's so faint I wasn't sure."

"No. Little wisps of smoke. And look—over there? And that one far off? Aren't there faint smudges?"

"Yeah," Brennan agreed quietly, "Maybe they smoke sometimes." He took in the look on her face. "Come on, Shal. Let's keep walking."

She shrugged, eyes again beginning their nervous roving. She was determined to stay alert, even though her stomach was queasy and the mild headache plaguing her all day was turning into a nasty, noisy intruder in her brain. Wearily, she followed after Brennan and heard again the deep vibration of the far-off thunder. Though not constant, it had been regular since the day before. She dully remembered waking up several times during the night, foggily aware of the ominous sound. And she remembered that she had awakened in fear.

Hours passed uneventfully as they slowly made their way back down the mountain, off the ash plain, and back into the dense jungle. Shalimar perked up a bit when Luka called for a rest break and her ears picked up the trickling of a brook bubbling up from between some huge boulders. She pulled her canteen out of her pack, waiting impatiently for her turn.

"Let me caution you," Luka spoke as he knelt down by the small fountain, plunging his canteen into the water, "The water will be—well, this is odd." Frowning, he stuck his hand all the way into the small pool that formed before the brook trickled on down the mountainside.

"What is it?" Brennan asked, kneeling beside him. Chester peered over the water with him, sniffing the surface.

Obviously perturbed, Luka shook his head. "It's just that this brook is actually an artesian well. Do you know what that is?"

"Sure." Shalimar stepped up behind them. "It's an underground stream that gets forced upward through crevices in the rock bed."

"Exactly," Luka replied. "This is the only one we've found. All the other streams you see originate from rainwater catches."

"So?" Brennan prompted, puzzled. He stuck his hand down in the stream, mimicking Luka, and his face changed. Shalimar watched as he and Luka's gazes met.

"What?" Shalimar impatiently knelt and thrust her hand into the water. "It's warm." She nervously licked her lips. "Aren't these wells normally freezing cold?"

"Yes." Luka's tone was quiet.

"What's it mean?" Brennan demanded sharply. "Why would an underground spring get heated?" His eyes turned fearfully back to the volcanoes.

"No," Luka firmly shook his head. "It's not what you're thinking. We monitor this island carefully; there have been no indications of an eruption." He turned back toward the water, cupping it in his hands and bringing it up to his face. "It's alright. It smells sweet." He tasted it. "It's fine. I don't detect any change in the taste either." He shook his hands out, water droplets flying everywhere. "It's probably just some slight shifting of the underlying rock bed. It doesn't take much exposure to geothermal heat to warm up water, probably tied to today's earthquake. It happens." He pushed himself back to his feet, all business. "We rest for fifteen minutes, and then we head off again."

"Great." Shalimar muttered under her breath as she splashed some of the tepid water on her face. Beside her, Chester plunged his entire head under the water, resurfacing a moment later, tongue happily panting over the water, flecks of drool falling back in. "That's disgusting," She pushed the dog away from the pool, "Some of us still have to drink from this, you know---" Her voice trailed off as Chester tensed his body. "Don't you dare!" She pointed a finger at the little dog. Too late. Water flew everywhere as the dog shook out its coat. "Argh!"

"Come on Chester," Brennan hastily pulled the little dog out of Shalimar's line of sight, "Why don't you go rest over there." He pointed to a shady spot a few feet away. Chester whined and then padded over to the indicated place. "You ok, Shal?" Brennan gave her a hard look, face lighting with sudden comprehension. "You've got a headache, don't you?"

"No."

"Liar."

"It's getting better."

"It's getting worse."

Shalimar blew out an impatient breath. "How do you know these things, Brennan?"

He smiled gently. "I hate to tell you this, Shal, but it doesn't take a mind reader to know when you don't feel well." He pushed damp tendrils off her temple. "It's the only time your eyes aren't sparkling and your skin doesn't glow."

"Thanks," Shalimar snorted ironically.

"Come on," He led her a few paces away, settling with his back against one of the boulders and pulling her between his outstretched legs. "Let me see if I can help." His hands closed around her shoulders, squeezing gently, and then moved up to rub her neck, soothing tensed muscles. They were silent for long moments. "You know, Shal," He pressed a kiss to the side of her head, hands continuing their gentle circles. "We could get some of Luka's Kava for you. I guarantee after two or three drinks of that stuff, you won't feel a thing anymore. And I mean nothing. Like your feet, or hands, or ears…"

She giggled, despite everything. "You're terrible."

"Yeah, but you love me." He pressed another kiss to the tip of her ear.

"God help me." She turned in his arms, seeking his warm lips, desperately wanting to drown in his scent, his comfort.

"Ahem," Luka loudly cleared his throat, suddenly standing over them. "We leave in two minutes."

Brennan glared up at him as he felt Shalimar immediately pull away, closing in on herself again as she turned her head away, eyes roaming the terrain and tensing as she looked back at the looming volcanoes.

"Two minutes." Luka stalked away.

The trembling started deep in her bones and shattered her temporary calm. She hissed in a deep breath through her teeth, eyes wild as she stared at the formidable sight behind them.

"Shal, don't." Brennan murmured softly, pleadingly. "Don't." He ran his fingers up and down her cheeks, forcing her attention back on him. "I can't stand it when you're afraid."

"I'm not afraid." Her hair swung forward, hiding her eyes as she ducked her head.

"Shalimar." He forced her chin upward. "It's ok. It'll be all right."

She pulled away from him, ashamed. "I know." Her voice was dull, her eyes averted. "I just want to get off this island, Brennan."

"We will, Shal, we will."

He took her hand, and they walked together without looking back.

The moon had risen high in the sky with thin clouds stretched across its face by the time they arrived back at their original campsite. After a quick supper, they had settled in for the night. Brennan took the first watch, finding himself jumpy at every little island sound. He flexed his fingers, comforted by the familiar power lingering just beneath the skin. Just their luck it would be a fire mutant that was after the doctor's precious plant and serum. He sighed, eyes caressing the small lump that was Shalimar, huddled under a blanket by the low fire. He could see that she was restless, even in sleep. Rustling leaves caught his attention, and he careened his ears. There was the sound of footsteps crunching stealthily on dry clay, and his eyes swept the darkness. He started from his post and slipped past Shalimar, lightly tapping her on the shoulder as he passed by her. He'd almost reached Luka when he saw the figure, little more than a deeper shadow in the darkness, moving in front of him. Chester appeared out of the jungle, barking furiously.

"Who's there?" Brennan called, hands quickly opening to form a tesla coil.

The only answer was a blow to his shoulder as the figure rammed past him, to melt into the night and disappear. He whipped around, throwing lightening blindly in the direction the figure ran. He heard a sizzle as lightening made contact, and a sharp grunt and stumble. Shalimar appeared next to him, and he turned his head at her concerned call, turning back again when Luka ran huffing up to them right behind her.

"He almost got my pack!" Luka screamed in anger, clutching his bag in his hands. "What kind of bodyguards are you anyway?!"

"You're alive, aren't you."

Brennan couldn't help but smirk at the flat tone of Shalimar's voice as she narrowed her eyes at the doctor. He chuckled under his breath as the doctor paled and gasped indignantly, turning sharply on his heel and stalking back to the fire.

"Easy, Shal." Brennan placed a hand on her shoulder. "You stay here and guard him, I'll go after the intruder. I'm pretty sure I hit him." He spoke quickly, fingers giving her shoulder a final squeeze before sprinting after the direction of the figure. Chester trotted beside him, and the little dog gave him a measure of reassurance, that maybe she would sense something in the darkness that he couldn't.

But they found nothing. Finally, he heard Shalimar calling for him, and he retraced his steps back to the fire. They eventually settled in for the rest of the night, tiredly dragging themselves up at the crack of dawn to make the rest of the way back to the safety of the Dominion office.

The underbrush hung over the faint path like a thick green canopy, shutting out most of the sun, and even in the daylight, the shadows seemed ominous. The day before, Shalimar had developed a blister on her right heel, and it was rapidly getting worse, making walking difficult. She sighed, bending over to adjust her boot, trying to relieve the pressure on her blister. She glanced ahead at Brennan's broad back as he continued walking, unaware she had stopped behind him. Pulling off her boot, she winced. Her entire heel was red and inflamed. She would have to get the first aid kit from Brennan. She was lacing back up her boot when she felt a prickle of awareness between her shoulder blades. She was being watched. She slowly stood to her feet, eyes glowing.

"Wait!"

She froze, heart pounded at the rough command. She turned towards the voice, settling into a ready stance when she saw a man lurching clumsily toward her through the thick underbrush. His shirt was ripped in several places, he wore a thick stumble of beard, and there was an inch-long gash just above his right eye. He cradled a limp right arm against his body, and she knew immediately Brennan had indeed struck him.

"What do you want?" She watched him warily. His eyes were too wild for her liking. She sucked in air when he struggled to form a flame of fire on his palm.

Fire! Her heart lurched in her chest, and she turned to run. She only made it a few steps when the first flame went shooting past her.

"Don't run!" He shouted, stumbling after her, "I have to talk—"

At that moment, Shalimar tripped over a tree root and went sprawling, too hasty to notice it in her panic. She struggled back to her feet just as the man reached her. They both froze when they heard a shout and a shuffle in the distance.

"Shalimar!" Brennan was running towards them.

She saw a flash of fear and annoyance on the man's face as flames again came to life on his hands. Instinctively, she attacked, aiming a quick, hard blow to his solar plexus, and he fell with a loud thump.

"Wait!" His weak voice made her pause just as she was about to strike again. "You don't understand," he panted, "I need that serum."

She opened her mouth to question him when a blue flash streaked past her and struck him. She whipped around to see Brennan standing with hand outstretched, looking furious and terrified all at once. The man howled in pain and anger, and she ran past him and towards Brennan as he started to form another tesla coil.

"I'm ok," She called, "I'm ok." She hesitated when she saw the stark fear in his eyes. Dread filled her and she slowed and turned, heart stopping when she saw the man was again on his feet, flames poised on his fingertips.

She stood between them, lightening on one side and fire on the other, and all three realized at the same time that they were in a stalemate. Shalimar whimpered as the earth beneath them again let out a shuddering rumble and the world tilted crazily at her feet. Fire and lightening blazed above her head at the same time and then her ears dimly registered the sickening thud of a falling body. She screamed without even realizing it.

"Brennan!"