Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I'm now working on chapter 13, still not sure how long this story will be yet! :) Thank you so much MariShal, Lady Alexandra, Rain (you got it! :) ), Mayra, Fiery Feral, CatJerica, Melodie568, Mfkngst (thank you for not giving up! :)), Jessica, Lauren13, Quadrantje. Your words mean so much, thank you! Things get a little intense in this chapter, some things revealed...maybe. :) I hope you enjoy!
All Things—Chapter Seven
She felt the rush of air as the point of the knife slammed down inches from where her hand had landed to brace herself from falling backward. The ridge of scars along her thumb burned at the memory, and her hand jerked back, breath coming in hitching gasps as she shoved a fist in her mouth, stumbling backwards, fighting the overwhelming fear as nightmare turned to reality before her eyes.
The shadow had turned into a monster.
"Brennan!" She screamed his name without even realizing it.
Brennan turned in surprise as the lights went out, the continuous humming of Sanctuary suddenly silent. Silence had never seemed so loud. He barely had time to register the thought when it was broken by a scream that brought chills to the core of his bones. His heart stopped, then slammed in terror, drowning the silence that followed.
Jesse heard Shalimar's scream, but knew he had to first find the lights. Unfortunately, he needed the computers to do so. He swore, knowing it would be once again up to him to fix it. He pushed back his chair, feeling his way down the hall through the darkness. The generators should have kicked in by now, so he wanted to start there. First, he needed to find a flashlight. It was amazing how dark it could be inside a mountain with no windows. He couldn't ever remember a time when Sanctuary had been totally dark. From memory, he found the lab, hearing faint voices from the kitchen, glad that at least Lexa and Shalimar were together in this latest mess. He opened one of the cupboards, feeling inside. A flashlight had to be around here somewhere.
She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. Instinct waged a war in her mind and won, and the feral snarled at the shadow, shrinking from the stretching claws and striking back, powerful kick sending the hunter shadow flying and buying her time. She sprang to her feet, eyes glowing, searching, finding her escape in the open hallway, driven by the mad desire to run, to hide. Somehow, the hunter had become the prey. Run. She ached with the urge to disappear into the safety offered her through the doorway, but a tiny part of her fought back, forcing her to turn, crouching as she scanned the kitchen.
"Lexa?" Her voice sounded foreign to her, high and tinny in the darkness.
Ragged breathing sounded for a few moments.
"You almost got me, Shal."
The coldness of the voice stopped her for a moment. She tilted her head, heart pounding, not understanding, fighting against overwhelming instinct. Her blood froze as the distinct sound of steel scrapping against metal told her the knife was being dragged down the counter. She sucked in a sob, the sound sending flashbacks of another time, another knife.
"Lexa?" Her voice cracked as she tried one more time to regain control.
There was a brief hiss of air and then the sickening tear of flesh. Run. She gave into instinct and flew out the door, legs buckling beneath her as the walls seemed to close in. Her breath quickened, panic building inside as footsteps came near. Her chest tightened, and the shakes came with vengeance. She raised trembling hands to her face, fighting the image, but it came. Her heart hammered. She threw up her arms to ward off the claws as a shadow bent over her.
Jesse grumbled as he crawled over to yet another cupboard, running his fingers over the contents; nothing. He swore, slamming the door shut and feeling his way to the next one. His impatient fingers felt glass, and he forced himself to slow down, not wanting to get cut. The extra vials. He recognized them by their distinctive shape. His fingers unexpectedly dropped as he ran them over the last row, and he frowned. He was missing one? He always kept them fully stocked.
"You're losing it, Kilmartin." He shook his head, muttering under his breath as he moved onto the next cupboard and then the next, brightening as his fingers finally closed over a flashlight. He pulled it out and flicked the switch back and forth. Nothing. "Damn it!" He threw the dead flashlight across the room and gritted his teeth, continuing his search.
Memory gave Brennan speed as he ran down the hallway, towards the kitchen. He hadn't heard anything since Shalimar screamed, and she hadn't answered his calls.
"Shalimar!"
He heard scuffles ahead of him and quickened his pace, grunting as he stumbled over a large potted plant. He grappled with it for a moment, shoving it aside in frustration.
"Shalimar! Answer me!"
His feet slid on the shiny floor as he flew around the corner, and he sensed someone near just as he collided with a body lying in the hallway. For a brief second his heart stopped as the body didn't move, and then a familiar whimper sounded.
"Shalimar?"
He dropped to his knees, hands trembling as they landed on the prone flesh. A knee. A hand flew out from nowhere; striking him, knocking him backward and he tasted blood as he bit down hard on his lip.
The body took shape into a crouch, and he realized with confused relief that it was Shalimar, squatting in a defensive posture.
"Shalimar! It's me!" His voice came out harsh, rasping as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Brennan?" Her voice was small, lost.
"Shalimar!" He breathed her name in relief, scrambling back to his feet and rushing towards her shadowy figure. "Are you ok? I heard you scream." He slowed as she flinched away from him, back pressing into the wall behind her. "Shal?" He knelt down, bringing his head down to her level, hand reaching out for her. Her eyes glowed eerily back at him, and for a moment, he felt a flash of fear. He froze, holding his breath, expelling it loudly when he felt her fingers tentatively close around his outreached hand.
"Brennan?" She sounded dazed, and her golden eyes blinked slowly, staring at him.
"Yeah, I'm here." He gently squeezed her fingers.
He heard her rush of breath and saw her eyes flash and then disappear in the darkness as they slid back to their normal color. She leapt toward him, arms closing around his neck as she pressed her shaking body into his. The move knocked him backwards, and she fell back with him as his arms automatically wrapped around her.
"Are you ok?" He grunted as her fingers dug into his shoulders. She didn't answer, so he pushed himself back up into a sitting position, trying to pull back, but she only clung tighter. He gave up, folding his arms more tightly around her back, burying his nose in her hair.
"Shal?" He tried again, hands caressing her back in soothing circles until she finally stopped trembling.
"What happened?" She finally lifted her face, staring at him through the darkness.
"I don't know," He raised his hands, searching for her face, cupping her cheek when he found it, "The power went out as I was walking to join Jesse, and then I heard you scream."
She grasped his arms tightly in remembrance. "Lexa."
Jesse grinned in triumph as he finally found a working flashlight. He blinked, struggling to adjust his eyes at the light suddenly cast through the room. He swept the light over the lab, shaking his head at the mess he had made while searching in the dark. He needed to look over the generator to get temporary power restored, but wanted to find the others first. Brennan's help might be needed, and he wanted the girls to check the outside doors in case security had been compromised. He pressed his lips together. The power wouldn't just go out without a reason.
Brennan turned quickly as a light bounced toward them. He stood up, keeping Shalimar slightly behind him as he formed a tesla coil, eyes squinting as the light shone directly in his face, blinding him.
"It's me!"
Brennan relaxed, closing his hands as he recognized Jesse's voice. "You ok?"
"Yeah," Jesse stopped as he stepped next to them, passing the light around the hallway. "Where's Lexa?"
Shalimar stiffened at the mention of her name.
"Shal?" Brennan and Jesse turned toward her in question.
"She—she's in the kitchen." Shalimar's face was pale as she stared at them.
Jesse stepped past her, but she caught his arm, spinning him back around to face her.
"Wait." She shook her head. "I don't know what's going on, but she-she tried to attack me."
"Lexa?" Jesse stared down at her in shock.
"Shalimar, what are you saying?" Brennan placed his hand on her shoulder. "Lexa wouldn't hurt you."
"You don't believe me?" Shalimar took a step back.
"No!" Brennan reached for her again. "Wait, Shal. Tell us what happened."
She shook off his hand, eyes darting between both of them. "She tried to hit me with the knife, after you both left."
Jesse shook his head. "Knife? Lexa?"
"I'm telling you, she attacked me, you have to believe me."
"That's not true!"
The three of them turned at the sound of a ragged voice down the hallway. Jesse shone the light, gasping as Lexa staggered toward them, holding a bleeding arm.
"Lexa!" Jesse ran towards her as Shalimar moaned, pressing her back against the wall. "What happened?" He shoved the flashlight into his mouth, hands cradling her arm. "You've been cut!"
Lexa nodded, leaning against Jesse for support.
His arms wrapped around her supportively as he turned them back towards Brennan and Shalimar. "What the hell happened?"
Brennan stared in shock at Lexa for a moment, then turned back to Shalimar in confusion. "Shal?"
Her head pounded, and she shook it, trying to focus as the smell of blood hit her and questioning eyes bore down on her. Trapped. She braced both hands behind her on the wall.
"She attacked me with the knife."
At Lexa's whispered words, she gasped, shaking her head, fighting the dull roar that rushed in her ears. "No."
"Shal?" Brennan stared down at her in horror, hands hovering uncertainly above her.
"No." She moaned again, "No, no, no."
"Shalimar, please." Brennan's voice cracked as he finally touched her shoulder. "What did you do?"
Do. She stared at him as the horrible truth washed over her. He didn't believe her. He believed Lexa. She wrenched free of his grip, backing away. "She's lying. She cut herself." She shoved a fist into her mouth. "She-she's framing me."
Brennan's face twisted with agony and his stomach soured as he stepped toward her. She looked scared, wild, eyes darting between them as Jesse shone the light on her. "We'll figure this out. It'll be ok, just talk to me." He reached for her, but she held a hand out in warning. He paused, uncertain.
"She attacked me," Lexa spoke up again, straightening up as she took a step closer. "Something's wrong with her."
"No!" Shalimar's hands flew up, pressing against her ears.
"The serum." Jesse whispered suddenly, staring at her. "Do you think she's still infected?"
Brennan twisted to look at Lexa, her bloodied arm. Her paled, looking back at Shalimar. It couldn't be. His mind fought against the idea. "But she—she hasn't been sick."
Jesse's brows furrowed. "Sick?"
"The serum made her sick, she'd be sick if she was still infected."
They talked about her like she was no longer in the room. Nightmare. Fear. She banged her head against the wall, struggling to think clearly. Knife. Blood. Serum.
"Something's obviously wrong with her." Lexa winced as she tried to move her arm.
"Careful," Jesse's hand stilled her movements. He shined the flashlight back at her injured arm, peering close, feeling sick at the ragged and torn flesh.
"Jesse," Lexa implored him with a whisper as he bent close. "Something's wrong with Shalimar. We have to stop her, she might try something else."
Jesse looked into her eyes, before closing his in resignation. "Alright." He whispered back. He straightened back up, stepping up next to Brennan as he continued to hover by Shalimar.
Shalimar looked up as they both stood in front of her, watching as Jesse shifted his stance uneasily. They didn't believe her. The walls closed in.
"Shalimar," Brennan spoke slowly, carefully. "We think you might still be sick. We need to get you to the lab so we can scan you." He reached out for her again. "Please."
Her eyes bounced between them. "Ok." She licked her dry lips, watching as both their shoulders dropped with relief. She took a few steps past them and toward the lab, suddenly breaking into a run.
"Shalimar!" Brennan hollered her name as he dove after her, tackling her by the legs and bringing her down. She screamed, twisting to her side as they landed hard on the ground, kicking against him.
Jesse ran up to help, grabbing her arm as she struggled free of Brennan's grip.
"No!" She fought blindly, struggling as Jesse wrapped his arms around her from behind and Brennan held her kicking legs.
"Shal, please." Brennan's voice broke as he strained to hold her, "Let us help you."
She stopped fighting abruptly, falling limp in their arms.
They stared at each other, chests heaving as they panted for breath.
"I trusted you." Her eyes were huge, sad. She sounded like a lost little girl.
Brennan groaned; head dropping as tears filled his eyes. How had it come to this? He swallowed bitterly. "We'll take care of you, Shal." He rasped, heart breaking.
"I'm not the one who's sick." She implored, shaking her head as they looked at each other doubtfully. "It's not me!"
"Come on," Brennan released his hold on her legs. "Let's get you to the lab."
She glared at them as she struggled back to her feet.
"Lexa, can you walk?" Jesse looked back at Lexa as she leaned heavily against the wall.
"Yeah." She nodded, "I'm ok."
Shalimar took advantage of Jesse's distraction to wrench her arm free from his grasp and again took off running down the hall. Run. Instinct drove her forward, crying out in frustrated rage as Brennan again tackled her. They rolled, landing in front of Lexa. Her head landed heavy on the floor, exploding in pain and she curled inward as Brennan called her name and desperately caught her thrashing head. She stilled, eyes landing on Lexa as she bent directly over her.
They stared at each other.
Lexa's lips curled upward into a small, satisfied smile, one lid dropping in a wink.
Shalimar surged upward in rage, but Brennan's hands held her down, Jesse joining him.
Lexa smirked, finger lighting up behind both their backs as they struggled to hold Shalimar.
"No!" Shalimar twisted fiercely as she saw Lexa's intent, eyes widening in fear.
Brennan's head swung around, following her eyes, hissing in a breath as he saw Lexa. "Jesse!" He screamed, releasing his hold on Shalimar and throwing his body at Lexa, knocking her over as she shot a laser at Shalimar. Jesse swung around, dropping the flashlight, and light bounced in crazy circles as it rolled around the floor.
"Jesse, it's Lexa!" Brennan's voice roared through the darkness as a howl of rage tore from the dark-haired woman's lips, screaming as Brennan pulled her injured arm back behind her.
Jesse grappled for the flashlight, shining it on the struggling pair, starting when he saw the crazed look in Lexa's eyes.
Shalimar crawled to him, staring at the sight. "Riley," She breathed. "I recognize that look."
Jesse turned to look at her sharply, then looked back at Lexa. "You think Lexa's infected? That's impossible. She never had contact." His heart slammed in his throat as Lexa suddenly turned on him, gnashing her teeth as Brennan struggled to hold her. She had been sick. The missing vial. He groaned, bending forward for a moment, sickened. Shalimar's hands fell on his back.
"I'm sorry, Shal." He whispered into his hands, feeling her squeeze his shoulder in return. He took a deep breath, pushing himself to his feet. "She—she seems to be infected with something. But how?"
"We can figure that out later," Brennan gritted, keeping both her arms tightly behind her as she screamed at Jesse's words. "For now, I could use some help here." His muscles bulged as he fought to hold her.
"Let's get her to the lab," Jesse sighed heavily, shining the flashlight ahead of Brennan to light the way as they turned and walked down the hallway. "As soon as I can, I'll scan her, and see what's going on."
"It's over." Shalimar's legs shook uncontrollably as they strapped the thrashing Lexa into one of the lab beds, and Jesse prepared a mild sedation, wincing as Lexa hissed angrily at him. She leaned her head against the wall, breathing deeply as her headache slowly subsided to a dull ache and reason returned in waves.
"We're fortunate we have some of the counter-serum leftover." Brennan came over, stopping just in front of her uncertainly.
She looked up at him, watching as he dragged a tired hand through his hair, leaving it standing in spiky clumps.
"Forgive me?" His voice was raw, stricken.
She hesitated. I trusted him. She pushed the niggling fear aside. "Of course."
He groaned, pulling her into his arms. Her arms rose and circled around his neck, pressing her nose into his shoulder, breathing his familiar scent. This was Brennan. She loved him. Everything was good again.
"Are you ok?" He pulled back, seeking her eyes. The wildness had dissipated; only familiar brown stared tiredly back at him.
"Yeah." She took a moment to think. "I—I think this was somehow my nightmare last night, and it confused me when it started to happen for real."
He nodded slightly, still watching her closely. "I was scared, Shal." He raised his shoulders at the confession. "I didn't know what to think."
"It's ok now, Brennan. I think maybe I--I somehow sensed that things weren't right, I'm not sure. Everything in me just seemed to go into overdrive."
"Whatever it was, it's over now." He pulled her back into a tight hug. "I love you, Shal." His fingers tightened, digging into her shoulder blades and then tangling in her hair.
"I love you too." She murmured into his chest, eyes falling shut. The nightmare was over. She pulled back after a long moment, cupping his cheek and pressing a kiss into his lips, tasting the relief and the love that he poured back into her. His arm stayed around her shoulder as finally, she turned and they crossed back over to where Jesse was stroking a hand through Lexa's hair. She lay limply on the bed, eyes closed.
"She'll be ok," He whispered, not taking his eyes off her pale face. "I don't understand, how this happened?" He leaned into Shalimar as she placed her hands on his shoulders.
"We'll figure it out." Brennan clapped his shoulder in support and then looped his arm around Shalimar.
Jesse nodded, eyes returning back to Lexa's still face, shuddering at the image of her screaming at him in hatred. "It reminds me of when she had that thing in her neck, controlling her again." His fingers tightened in her dark tresses. "She hated that."
"We'll work through it." Brennan reassured again, ignoring the slight fear he couldn't quite shake, arm tightened subconsciously around Shalimar.
They smiled at each other in support and relief, then turned back toward Lexa.
They were together, that was all that mattered.
Wind howled forlornly, kicking up swirls of snow that blasted against anything in its path. He frowned as he hunched his shoulders against the wind, glancing at his watch one more time. They were late. It had taken him a while, but patience had paid off and he had finally figured out their routine. Until tonight. He sighed, pulling back slightly from his watchful position and leaning against the tree, hoping to block some of the blowing wind. Weeks of watching had shown him they always brought the dog out around sundown. Something must have happened to interrupt their routine. He pictured her long, blonde hair as it blew wild around her tiny frame, her smile as she watched the dog. Lately, her smile had been replaced with worry lines. He wondered if it had anything to do with whatever was going on inside tonight. Going by touch, he made sure his surveillance equipment was still working properly. The bitter cold tended to freeze the lens, and he wanted to be prepared in case they came out after all.
They had to eventually. He just had to wait.