A/N: I am so sorry it has taken me this long to update. So I just want to thank you all for the support. I won't keep you waiting any longer, hope you enjoy.

Chapter 7

Shalimar awoke the next morning and without remembering what happened the day before she sat up causing her to yelp in pain. She slowly laid back down and realized that someone was laying next to her. She turned her head slowly towards Brennan who was still asleep.

It wasn't a dream, he really did come after me. But why? I guess that doesn't matter right now. All that matters is getting out of here, alive.

Shalimar felt Brennan starting to wake up beside her and when he went to sit up she put her hand on his chest to stop him.

"What the hell." Brennan said as he looked over at Shalimar.

"Easy, we don't need you hurting yourself more." Brennan sat up slowly, followed by Shalimar. "How do you feel?" Shalimar asked.

"Why do you care." Brennan retorted.

"Look Brennan we need to set everything aside so we can try and find away out of her, then we never have to see each other again."

"In that case, I think I feel like I'm bleeding internally and I'm freezing cold." Shalimar felt Brennan's forehead.

"You're burning up, here lay down." Shalimar stood up, one arm around her stomach. She put the blanket over Brennan.

"What are you doing?"

"Sshh, don't talk you need to conserve all of your energy. I'm going to try and get you a doctor." Brennan simply closed his eyes in response. He was getting weaker, and weaker by the minute.

Shalimar banged on the door not knowing if she was even being heard. Five minutes later she was still banging on the door with everything she had.

(Outside)

"What the hell is all the racket down here?" No one answered Joshua. "Well don't just stand there shut them up!"

A guard named Eric opened the door to Shalimar and Brennan's cell. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"He needs a doctor, or he's going to die."

"Why wouldn't I just let him die." Joshua said smugly as he entered the cell. A moment passed. "No reason for him to live is there?" Shalimar remained silent, thinking. "That's what I thought. One down four more to go." He turned around to leave as did Eric.

"Get him a doctor, save him, and,,,"

"And what Miss Fox?" Joshua turned back around interested.

"I'll tell you what you want to know." Shalimar whispered.

"What was that? Speak up Miss Fox because by the looks of it Mr. Mulwray can't go on much longer the way he is."

"I said I'll tell you what you want to know!" Shalimar screamed this time as loud as she could.

"Eric get Mr. Mulwray a doctor. I'll be back in awhile, and we'll finish out conversation." Both men left, and the cell was quiet.

"Why the hell did you do that?"

Shalimar turned around startled. "You're supposed to be sleeping." She walked over towards Brennan.

"Just let me die, and get yourself out of here." Shalimar just stared at him. " You have a plan, don't you?" She gave him the look that told him he was right. "You want to fill me then." He tried to sit up.

"I don't think so, lay back down." Shalimar helped Brennan lay back down slowly. All of a sudden she was hit by a wave of dizzy spell. She swayed and fell onto Brennan, and they both winced.

"I think you're the one that should take it easy." He helped her sit up. "You're shivering." He felt her forehead. "You're burning up too." Brennan moved over and put half the blanket Shalimar.

Shalimar remained silent. The truth was she didn't have a plan on how to get them both out of the hell they were in, yet. However she didn't want to tell Brennan that. He was to weak to be worrying about what was about to happen.

Roughly a half hour later the cell door opened and in walked Joshua with what looked to be a doctor and two guards. Shalimar stood up slowly. "I won't tell you anything until I know he's got professional medical attention."

"How do I know you'll keep up your end of the deal?"

"I guess you'll have to trust me."

"Well see that I don't." Joshua snapped his fingers and the two guards grabbed Shalimar. They dragged her to the same room she was in before. Only this time there was a chair and table in the room. About five minutes later a women about twenty years old walked in. She had dark brown hair, and deep brown eyes. She sat across from Shalimar who was strapped to her chair. There was something about this women but Shalimar wasn't sure of what.

Meanwhile down the hall Brennan was being examined by the doctor. "I must say you did quite a job on him. I don't know if I can help him, it might be to late."

"If he dies, so do you." Joshua left, leaving three guards to supervise.

"Take him to the lab on the third floor and be gentle." The guards nodded and did as they were instructed.

(Interrogation Room)

"I won't tell you anything until I know my friend is getting help."

"He is, I assure you that." The women opened her briefcase and read the file that was inside it. "You're Shalimar Fox?"

"Last time I checked." Shalimar noticed the visible change of expression on the women's face." Excuse me a moment." The women stood up and left the room. "What floor was the man in the cell with Miss Fox taken to?"

"As far as I know, the third, he's getting medical attention."

"Thank you Michael that will be all for now." The women walked back inside and was sure to lock the door. "You don't remember me do you?"

"Should I?" asked Shalimar coldly.

"It was a long time ago I guess you wouldn't." A pause, and then. "My name is Shannon Burt. You obviously don't remember but you saved my life along with my sister."

"Sorry I don't remember." Shalimar tried to but she just couldn't remember. However the name did sound familiar.

"So you are apart of Mutant X?"

"Yeah." Shalimar said getting slightly annoyed.

"You need to listen to me very carefully. I'm going to help you get out of here but after that you're n your own."

"Now why would you do that?"

"You saved my sister's life, and I promised you if the time ever came I would repay you. Oddly enough that time has come." Shannon stood up and walked behind Shalimar.

"That hurt."

"Sorry."

"What did you just,,,"

"I disengaged your sub dermal governor."

"You're a feral."

"Yes, I am why?"

"I just picked up on it but I still don't remember you."

"Like I said before it was a long time ago. Anyway I'm going to get you out of here but by here I mean this room."

"Yeah I heard you the first time." Shalimar didn't really know what was going on. Part of her trusted Shannon, the other part not so much.

"Now you more than likely don't trust me, and that's fine but if you stay here you will die. I have no doubt in my mind about that."

"You're serious about helping me aren't you?"

"Yes I am. You're a friend, Mr. Mulwray is on the third floor in the lab. It's on the south side. Take the stairs at the stairs at the end of the hall. Once you get there it's the second door on the right. The tricky part is going to be getting to the basement."

"I thought this was the basement." Shalimar spoke as Shannon undid the straps that were holding Shalimar in the chair.

"You're going to have to get to the elevator at the end of the hall. Once there push B3. It'll take you to the storage/garage. you're going to need an ATV. That's pretty much all I can tell. And there are three basements."

"Thank you." Was all Shalimar could manage.

"Um, Shalimar if you have enough strength in you, I ah, I need you to,,,"

"To what?"

"Make it look like you escaped properly, and all on your own." Shannon couldn't get the words out.

"This may hurt, and I'm sorry in advance." Shalimar's left fist connected with Shannon's face. She grabbed Shannon's I.D card and sneaked out.

You'd think for an interrogation they'd have guards on the look out. Dumb kids." Shalimar thought as she ran as fast as her body would let her.

She reached the third floor and remembered what Shannon had told her. There it was exactly where she was told it would be. Shalimar opened the door slowly. Seeing that no one was inside she entered. Sensing Brennan in the room she flipped on the lights. The only thing she saw was a gurney in the middle of the lab with a body laying on it covered by a white sheet. A red blood mark seeped through it.

"No, I'm not to late." Shalimar started to cry as she made her way over to the body. Just as she was about to say something she heard what sounded like a grunt come from behind a curtain on the far side of the room.

Shalimar slowly made her way over to the curtain. She calmed herself, ready for a fight. However when she pulled back the curtain she was relieved to see Brennan, breathing. He was still in bad shape but he

had a little colour to his face now.

"Shalimar behind,,, you." Shalimar didn't even turn around she threw the guard over her shoulder. Brennan tried to get up. Shalimar helped him as best she could.

"We better hurry he probably called for backup already." Shalimar informed Brennan as they walked as fast as they could towards the elevator.

(Interrogation Room)

Joshua entered the room followed by the two guards who had escorted Shalimar there. As soon as they entered they found Shannon unconscious on the floor. Joshua woke Shannon and asked her what happened. "Miss Fox got loose and as I tried to stop her she knocked me out."

"How did she get loose." Joshua asked sternly.

"I don't know. I came in, and these two had already left."

"Which means they didn't do their jobs properly."

Joshua turned around to face the two guards. "Either you find them or you're going to pay the price. Now get the hell out of my face! Oh and make sure to sound the damn alarm." The two guards rushed out of the room and a minute or so later the alarm sounded.

"Red alert! Red alert! Lockdown activated!" It sounded through the speakers.

Shalimar and Brennan ran as much and as fast as they could to get to the basement. However their injuries were slowing them down.

(In the elevator)

Shalimar pushed the button B3 and then went back to help Brennan who had almost fallen on the elevator floor. She helped him stand up but she was almost as weak as he was.

"Where are we going?" He asked in a raspy voice.

"To the third floor basement. It' the storage, and garage. I'm getting us out of here." The elevator opened and Shalimar, and Brennan were greeted with two guards.

"Where do you thing you're going?"

"None of you damn business." Shalimar punched the first guard, and just as she was about to punch the second Brennan hit him with a bolt of electricity.

"Thanks." Shalimar helped Brennan out of the elevator.

"Hold on." Brennan stopped as they were passing by one of the shelves.

"Brennan we don't have time."

"Get the ATV's over there ready, I'll be over in a second."

Shalimar did just that except she only fueled the blue one. There was no way she was going to let Brennan drive when he could barely stand let alone walk.

Moments later Brennan returned and put something in the storage compartment of the ATV. Shalimar didn't see what it was, as she was putting on her helmet.

"Is the other ready?"

"No we don't have time, hurry up get on." Shalimar helped Brennan put on his helmet. Just as Shalimar pushed the button to open to garage door the elevator opened and about ten guards came running at them.

Shalimar jumped on the ATV and hit the gas as hard as she could. Brennan held onto Shalimar's waist as she swerved trying to avoid them getting hit by bullets.

"Where did they go! Find them!" Joshua screamed from the elevator as Shalimar and Brennan sped off into the woods.

(An hour later)

Brennan heard two clunks and before he knew it the ATV had stopped. He was half asleep leaning on Shalimar's back but still very aware of what had just happened.

"We're going to have to find shelter by foot. We're all out of gas." Shalimar informed Brennan even though she figured he had already figured it out.

Brennan slowly got off the ATV and leaned against a nearby tree. Shalimar then got off and walked around for a minute trying to find the best direction to go in. Meanwhile Brennan grabbed the hiking bag he had stuffed into the storage compartment of the ATV, and heaved it over his back.

"This way." Shalimar took Brennan's hand and led him down a small hill.

(Sanctuary)

"Adam we need to find them and now. You're supposed to be the genius damn it!"

"I'm trying Jesse, I really am but I have yet to come up with anything substantial."

"Jess calm down." Emma tried to soothe her husband but it wasn't working since she was just as mad, and upset.

"We'll find them, they're not going to give up either so I don't want either one of you thinking that." Adam was frantically typing away on the keyboard unaware of what was going on with Brennan and Shalimar.

(Woods)

"We should be okay here for the night." Shalimar told Brennan as she looked at the small cave in front of them.

"I'm not going in there. You may be able to talk to bears but I sure as hell can't."

"Don't worry nothing is living in here. Besides it's almost completely dark out, and we can't walk around out here at night."

Shalimar and Brennan entered the cave and Shalimar helped Brennan sit down against the back wall. "Where are you going?" Brennan asked barely able to speak.

"Just to get some dry wood before it rains."

"But it's not going to,," Brennan caught his breath, "rain." He finished just before he passed out.

When Shalimar came back she dropped the pile of wood in the center of the cave, and then realized that Brennan was passed out cold.

"Brennan! Brennan! Wake up! Oh please god let him be alive."

"Shal?"

"I'm here Bren don't worry." Shalimar had never loved anything more then when she heard Brennan call her name.

"You're wet." Brennan pointed out the obvious.

"I told you before I left it was going to rain but like always you didn't listen." Shalimar smiled hoping it would make him feel better the way it used to.

"Here you sit. I'll start the fire." Brennan tried to stand up, and that's when Shalimar seen the red mark on his shirt.

"No, sit back down we need to stop the bleeding." Shalimar went to rip the bottom of her shirt.

Brennan put his hand to stop her. "Before you do that try and use what's in here." Brennan reached behind himself and grabbed the huge hiking bag he had been carrying.

Shalimar moved to sit next to Brennan against the wall. She opened the bag and pulled out a first aid kit, two blankets, one pillow, some water, and a few energy bars.

"Anything good in there that we can us. I just grabbed it." Brennan struggled to sit up and rid the dizziness in his head.

"Everything we need for now is in here." Shalimar went to hug him then backed away when a picture of Jacob popped into her head.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me help with the fire and then I promise I'll get these stupid things cleaned up." Brennan referred to the wounds on his stomach.

"Well what would you like me to do?"

"Put the pile of wood where you want the fire to be and then go sit down because you're in almost as bad shape as I am."

Shalimar did what Brennan had said and then walked back over to her spot on the wall. Then she seen him shoot a small bolt of electricity at the pile of wood and a small spark turned into the perfect fire, not to big, and not to small.

"I didn't know you knew how to do that." Shalimar announced without thinking. "Now get up."

"What, why?

"So I can put this blanket down so the ground is a little better to sit on."

Brennan tried to stand but the pain was over whelming and he couldn't. So Shalimar helped him up and she quickly put down the blanket fighting the pain that she was feeling. They both sat back down slowly and Shalimar opened the first aid kit and grabbed the bandages along with the rubbing alcohol.

"Here I can do it myself." Brennan extended his hand.

"You can barely move. Please let me help you."

"Like you helped me when you broke my heart." Shalimar ignored his comment and lifted up Brennan's shirt. Shalimar proceeded in taking off the old blood stained bandages .

"These are because of me so whether you like it or not I'm helping you."

"I'd really wish you wouldn't." Was all Brennan said before helping Shalimar by removing his shirt completely.

"Why are you so against me helping you? I mean first you save my life and then you save me a second time, and you won't even let me help you so you don't die. I just don't understand it." Shalimar wrapped the new bandages around Brennan's stomach.

"Ever thought that maybe I want to die?"

"No I know you better than that." Shalimar said sternly as she finished helping Brennan.

"You used to know me well. That was what, two and a half years ago?"

"Yeah something like that, and I still know you because u haven't changed that much."

"Well neither have you." Brennan fidgeted a little as Shalimar relaxed next to him.

Both Shalimar and Brennan sat in silence next to one an other as they both gazed at the blazing fire in front of them thinking.

Roughly and hour later Shalimar looked over at Brennan. His eyes were closed and his breathing shallow, and irregular.

"Brennan, Brennan , wake up, please wake up." She started to cry.

"Shalimar?"

"Thank god you're still alive!" Shalimar hugged him and his hug never felt so good especially after two and a half years. There had been so many times in those years that she had wished that he was around just to hug her.

"Um, yeah, I was sleeping. I do sometimes do that." Brennan tried to joke . "I mean not as much as I used to but whenever I get the chance." Brennan smiled to reassure Shalimar he was no better, no worse than before.

"If we both weren't I so much pain I'd hit you."

"That's great but I'm going to catch me some more z's."

"No Brennan you have to stay awake." Brennan shifted his weight a little and felt something in his back pocket. "What is it?" Shalimar asked noticing the look on Brennan's face.

"Your ticket home." Brennan slowly and painfully reached into his back pocket and pulled out the comm ring.

"What are you,,, is that?"

"Yup. Here you go, this is yours." He handed her the ring and she activated it. Shalimar tried and tried to get in touch with the others but nobody answered.

"It's an old one. The one you gave me on the silver chain. I found it a couple months ago in my Harley. It probably won't let you talk to them but,"

"It may lead them to us." Shalimar finished for him and put the blanket over him and then she put the pillow behind his head. "Your fever is getting worse."

"Oh well, tough luck. Now I'm going to try, and sleep."

"No you're not. You're going to stay up with me and talk to me."

"We don't have anything to talk about."

"Sure we do."

"Like what?" Brennan closed his eyes slightly.

"What have you been up to the past couple years?"

"Working, and surfing, you?"

"Well working and you know this and that. You learned how to surf?"

"Yeah, the beach is my back yard. I've got a question for you. Did you mean what you said about hating the loft?"

"No actually the truth I'm kind of jealous. I wish I had a place like that. Compared to my apartment it's like the greatest. Why do you care about what I think about it?"

A few minutes passed and then. "I don't it was just something to ask."

"Funny for a minute there I actually thought you cared."

"I've always cared it was you who said you didn't." Brennan moved slightly feeling the pain intensify.

"We both said things we didn't mean." Shalimar continued to stare at the fire.

"Well one of us did the other I'm not so sure about."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shalimar looked over at Brennan.

"Nothing, forget I ever said anything." Brennan closed his eyes wanting to sleep.

(Sanctuary - Same time)

"Adam! Emma! I think I found them!" Adam, and Emma came running towards Jesse.

"What? Where?" Adam asked slightly out of breath.

"One of them activated an old comm ring. It won't let me connect with then though but,"

"It will lead us to them." Emma cut in. "Let's go."

"We leave in fifteen minutes, be ready." They all ran off in different directions.

(Cave)

Shalimar had been to busy staring at the fire that she hadn't noticed Brennan put the blanket over her. When she did realize it a smile came upon her face. She looked over at Brennan who had fallen asleep. He was still breathing so Shalimar decided not to wake him.

About a half hour later Brennan started to cough fiercely. When he opened his eyes he immediately noticed the blood on his hands.

"Shalimar." He managed to get out.

"Yeah."

"Leave, get yourself out of here, and Shalimar be happy."

"Would you stop talking like your going to die."

"I'm coughing up blood. I have maybe a few hours left."

"Well sorry you have to spend them with me. The one person you hate."

"I don't hate you, never did, you're the one who hates me."

"I could never truly hate you Brennan. Now get some rest your going to need it." Brennan closed his eyes.

"Shalimar?"

"Yeah Brennan?"

"I'm glad you're here." Shalimar moved closer to Brennan and felt the warmth that was coming from him. She put the blanket over both of them and out her head on his chest.

"You want to know why I asked you if you liked the loft?"

"Sure, if you're up to telling me."

"I cared what you thought because the loft is your."

"What are you talking about?"

"I bought that place for us to start a family and after you, well broke up with me I couldn't bring myself to take your name of the will, and mortgage. So basically the place is your, it's all paid for so you don't have to worry about that."

Shalimar didn't know what to say. Things just were not making sense to her. "For the last time you are not going to die." Shalimar leaned up and gave Brennan a soft kiss on the lips. "Sorry."

"Don't be, it's,,, fine." Brennan managed to get out.

If I had one dying wish, it just came true.Brennan fell asleep once again, and minutes later Shalimar her self fell asleep.

(Hideout)

"Did you find them?"

"No sir. They were no where to be found."

"Check the hotels, motels, anywhere they may have gone if they did get across the lake. Now get out and find them!" Joshua screamed slamming his office door.

(Early Morning)

"Can you sense them Emma?" Adam asked as the three exited the Helix.

"Yeah, but barely. They're hurt Adam, really badly."

"Where are they?" Jesse asked.

"Beneath us. There must be a cave or something at the bottom of this cliff."

"I'll bring the Helix down there. You two find them." Jesse ran back to the Helix, as Adam, and Emma ran down the path along the side of the cliff.

(Cave)

"They're in here." Emma and Adam ran inside and found Brennan and Shalimar, both barely breathing.

"Check their pulses." Adam instructed Emma as he thought of what to do. Moments later Jesse ran in.

"Oh man, Shal, Bren. Em are they still," he couldn't get the words out.

"They're still alive but barely. Shalimar's pulse is weak but steady. Brennan on the other hand is just holding on, he doesn't have long left."

"Let's get them back to Sanctuary." Adam lifted up Shalimar gently as to not hurt her further.

Just as the Helix lifted off the ground ten guards came running from all directions. Shooting at the Helix did no good and the Mutant X were on their way back home to safety.

TBC