Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I don't know quite where to start, I am overwhelmed by your response. Thank you all, so much! Thank you MariShal, Brennan's Angel, Jaebs, Melodie, Mayra, Blackpanther, Quadrantje, x-shalimar-x, Rain. Your words mean so much. Fiery Feral, thank you again for everything! Is there ever any doubt! :) Lucy, you honor me, I thank you. CatJerica--Oh yeah, more than you know. Thank you. I've got the final chapter completed now, after re-writing the ending no less than four times! (My beta-writers are really making me think hard on this one!) Thank you again for your feedback and support!
Things More Beautiful—Chapter Fifteen
Brennan blinked in the late afternoon gloom, staring at the shapeless lump. Shalimar! He threw himself down the beach and ran. Panting, Brennan slid the last few inches on his knees, but when he came to a stop beside her crumpled figure, he found he could not reach out to touch her. "Oh, no," He moaned thickly, "Oh, no, no…"
It took him a moment to realize he was holding his breath and choking. Suddenly he drew in a great gulp of air and reached out with a shaking hand. He turned Shalimar over. Her brown eyes stared indifferently at the darkening sky. Chester lay protectively by her side, whining softly.
"Shalimar—" He framed her pale face with both his hands, bending over her, tears of relief welling in his eyes when her eyes slowly blinked.
"Brennan," She struggled weakly, "Brennan…" She reached for him, but she was so drained that her fingers could not quite curl around his.
Anger and remorse flashed over Brennan's face. The expression was so fleeting that it disappeared before it had quite registered, but when he spoke, his voice had deepened, and some pain filtered through. "Shal…I'm so sorry…" Her fluttering hand disappeared into both of his. "Shal—" He seemed unable to say anything more. His eyes were suddenly a brown flame. He closed them, grimacing now with pain, and then pressed his lips against her clammy hand. They stayed motionless for a moment, then he turned his head away from her, rested his cheek lightly against her hand, and muttered. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm sorry I wasn't here. I'm sorry it took me so long..."
"Shh—" It took effort to form words. "Not…not your fault."
Brennan's sharp intake of breath sounded in the quiet, but he didn't move. Shalimar felt the hardness of his cheekbone, the warmth of his face, the roughness of his growing stubble, and she longed to caress his face, but she couldn't move. Long moments passed, and she found she was almost holding her breath, needing to see him. Finally he turned his face back to her, and she felt physical pain hit her at the grief in his expression, at the anguished tears dripping down his cheeks. She didn't think he was even aware of them. It was the last thing she saw before haze settled over her eyes and she blacked out.
"What happened?" Brennan barely glanced up at an agent kneeling beside him; instead, he drew Shalimar into his lap, wrapping his arms protectively around her, rocking her.
"She just collapsed." The woman placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "We need to row the next group across, there's not much time."
"No." This time Brennan didn't even look up. Chester growled lowly, baring her teeth to the agent.
"Brennnan—"
"No!"
She sighed heavily, pushing herself to his feet, leaving him alone.
Brennan looked at Shalimar, and his eyes were haunted. He shouldn't have left her alone. He should have been here for her. Shalimar's cheekbones seemed to jut out sharply, and the dim light made the hallows of her cheeks look like black holes. Her eyelids were almost purple, and small bits of the delicate skin were peeling off in dry flakes. Her mouth was so colorless and wrinkled, and her whole face was covered with a sheen of sweat. She was breathing in small animal-like puffs, and at times she would draw a deep, shuddering breath. The sound frightened him.
"Just hold on, Shal." He brushed her tangled hair back, gently lying her down in the sand.
"What happened?" He asked again, looking around the huddled group.
It was silent. And then a mocking laugh started. It rose chillingly in the air, wild and disdainful. Brennan's head whipped around to see Jimmy sneering, staggering on his feet as he walked toward them, holding his side.
"You're too late!" His expression was one of ugly anticipation. "She's infected by the serum, you can't do anything now." He cackled at the irony.
"Shut up!" Brennan's eyes widened in rage as he jumped to his feet.
"You're too late!" Jimmy continued to sneer, "She belongs to the Dominion now!"
"Shut up!" Brennan hit Jimmy's jaw with a stunning, head-cracking force. His jaw didn't break, but he staggered and fell, unconscious.
Brennan spun on his heel and strode back to Shalimar, the other agents falling back and giving him space. He didn't even see them.
"Shal—" His voice cracked as he bent over her again, smoothing a hand across her sweaty brow. "Shal, please. You gotta fight this thing."
Her mouth worked; Brennan looked deep into her eyes and saw that she was conscious and wanted something. Bending so his ear was close to her mouth, he waited patiently. He could feel her hot, fevered breath and her hand gripped his with surprising strength. "Bre—Bre—Brennan...?" She finally whispered in a voice of raw pain.
"I'm right here," Brennan straightened up and again began to caress her temple. He smiled falteringly and looked straight into her eyes. "I'm here now, just rest. You need to save your strength, you need to be strong. It's ok now, I'm right here."
A single tear squeezed out of Shalimar's anguished eyes and slid down her sunken cheek. Then she closed her eyes.
"Brennan?"
He frowned at the second interruption, glancing up to retort in anger, but stopping short when he saw that Riley had crawled his way toward them, eyes surprisingly lucid. He didn't know the man was still alive. Chester watched him, ears perked as she turned her head between him and Brennan.
"She needs more serum, Brennan."
"No." He stared at Riley in shock.
Riley groaned as a rattling cough shook his frail frame. He struggled to regain control, rasping as Brennan watched him. "The serum will—will get her well for now. You can try to figure out a cure later."
Brennan continued to stare at him in disbelief.
"Look," He cleared his throat, "My family didn't make it, I won't make it, but maybe she can."
Brennan locked eyes with the man, studying him with intense scrutiny for long moments, before slowly nodding.
A look of regret flashed across Riley's face, and Brennan could see his eyes beginning to glaze over again. "Except the serum is gone. All gone." He whimpered in defeat.
The serum! Brennan almost forgot that it had gotten broken during the struggle earlier. But maybe..?
"The pack! Where's the pack?" He whirled around, eyes raking the beach until he saw the crumpled bit of canvas. His heart thudded as he ran over to it. Glass tinkled as he lifted it up and opened it with shaking hands. Crushed glass littered the bottom of the bag, and his heart sank. "Damn it!" He threw the pack back into the sand in frustration. How much more could they be expected to endure? He kicked the pack, watching with little satisfaction as it flew through the air. One of the Styrofoam packing crates flew out and landed with a soft spat into the sand. Liquid glimmered and gleamed in the dim light. His heart stopped as he froze, blinked, and then ran to it.
A single vial lay tucked safely in packing, thick liquid still jostling from the flight through the air. He sobbed in relief, scooping it up and the pack before running back to Shalimar's side. It was impossible, but it seemed her skin was stretched even tighter over her cheekbones and around her mouth. He shuddered, fumbling in the pack for a syringe and carefully filling it with liquid from the vial, making sure not to use all of it. He glanced once again at Riley for confirmation, but the man was back to muttering incoherently under his breath. Brennan swore, hands shaking as he hesitated with the needle over her arm. He took several shallow breaths and then injected it into her bloodstream. There, it was done. He slumped down into the sand, gathering her into his arms; waiting.
The transformation was remarkable. Her eyes fluttered as after only a few minutes, color began to seep back into her cheeks. One moment she was lying lifeless in his arms, and then the next, she suddenly shot up into a sitting position, so unexpectedly, that she clipped his chin with the top of her head.
"Brennan?" She stared at him in confusion.
He groaned deeply, pulling her into his arms.
It took her a moment to realize what happened, her fingers digging into Brennan's shoulder as she saw the pack and discarded needle littered around them. She was living on borrowed time. Her eyes cut sharply over his shoulder to the tree line, sucking in a deep breath at the sight. The last of the palms were now on fire. They had forty, fifty minutes at most before lava covered the beach. She closed her eyes, fighting to find the strength to continue on.
Brennan still hadn't released his tight hold on her, and for a brief moment, she saw them giving up, staying in each other's arms until lava flowed over them. But then she set her jaw, pulling back in fierce determination.
"Brennan." She captured his face with both hands, relieved to feel strength returning to lethargic muscles, "Where's the boat?"
He looked at her blankly for a moment, before understanding, remembering. "Quinn should be here any moment now, he was behind me. I've got the other boat waiting down at the pier."
She nodded, glancing around the group and taking a mental count. Twelve, thirteen…someone was missing. Her brow furrowed. "Brennan, where's Riley?"
He looked around in surprise. "He was just here, he—he saved your life, Shal."
She nodded, carefully standing up and testing her shaky limbs. "I have to find him." He reached out and grabbed her, but she gently pulled back. "You need to take the next group across now."
"You're coming with me."
She smiled, caressing his face.
"Shalimar, no." He rasped darkly.
"Brennan!"
They both froze as Jesse's voice suddenly crackled across their comlinks.
"Jesse?" Shalimar whispered, stunned. "Jesse, where are you?"
"It's a long story," His voice brought such sweet relief that tears sprang into both their eyes. "Lexa and I are flying to you now, we're almost there."
"Where you been, man?" Brennan choked, swallowing convulsively, unable to continue.
"Nice to know you missed us." Despite her sarcasm, Lexa's smile carried across the line. She paused for a beat, voice softening. "Can't say how good it is to hear your voices though."
"How long, Jesse?" Shalimar anxiously turned back to the fire.
"An hour, tops."
She exchanged grim looks with Brennan. They wouldn't make it in time. "You better get going, Brennan." She smiled tumultuously at him. "We still need to get more of these people across; they can't all fit in the helix."
"No," Brennan clamped onto Shalimar's forearms. "I'm not leaving you, not again."
"And I'm not leaving without Riley."
They stared at each other.
"Brennan!"
Now what? Brennan swore under his breath as he turned around. Quinn was sprinting across the beach toward them, panting as he struggled to catch his breath.
"What are you doing?" He called, "We don't have time to waste!"
"I'm coming!" Brennan hollered back to him. Quinn turned back around and staggered back toward the pier.
"He's a good man, helping us like that," Shalimar whispered, watching as he disappeared into the black murkiness. "Now go, help him."
Brennan's eyes flared defiantly. "Only if you get in the boat."
She shook her head.
"Then I'm not leaving." He crossed his arms.
"Brennan," Jesse jumped into the conversation. "Shalimar's right. We can hold two, maybe three extra in here if we have to, but if you've got more people than that, you need to get them to safety."
"Jesse—" Brennan struggled for calmness, teeth gritted. "You don't understand. Shalimar's been—"
"Infected, I know."
Shalimar winced, locking eyes with Brennan.
"You go; I promise I'll get to her in time." Jesse's voice was solemn.
"Shal—" Brennan shook his head.
"Go, Brennan." She pushed gently on his chest. "I'm ok now, and I have to find Riley. I owe it him. You get these people to safety, Jesse will get me, and we'll meet you back on the ship."
"He's dying, Shal." He tried one more time to argue.
"Then so am I." She smiled sadly.
"No." He fiercely pulled her into his arms.
Her arms rose up and circled around his neck, burying her face into his chest, stealing a brief moment of comfort. He was sweaty, dirty, tired. She loved him. "Go, Brennan."
"I'll get her, Bren." Jesse spoke again.
His arms tightened around her as he bit back a strangled sob, swearing under his breath. He pressed a kiss into her hair, and then he was gone.
"I'll be back!" His voice carried back to her.
She started. "No! Next trip, you stay on the ship!" She rushed toward the pier, squinting to see him as he climbed into the loaded boat.
"No," He said blithely, picking up the oars. "Be back in about thirty minutes, Shal. Be ready."
"You're the stubbornest creature on this earth!" She shouted, unknowingly throwing his words back in his face.
"Naw," He bawled out, "That title belongs to you!"
By the time Shalimar had taken two more steps down to the edge of the pier, the boat was gone. She was unprepared for the onslaught of emotions that hit her at the realization. She clung to one of the wooden uprights, pressing her hot cheek against the roughness of the wood, listening to the crackling of the fire. She was so tired, so dead tired and sick of all of this. She shuddered, then squared her shoulders, walking past the few people left with her. For now, she had to find Riley. The lava, the fire, the serum; she could worry about the rest of it later. For now, she had maybe thirty minutes left. Thirty minutes, and then it would be too late.