Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I am working on the final chapter now, just in time since this story is almost at an end now. Only three chapters left after this one! I promise, it will all start to make sense very soon, I hope you can hang in there with me for a little while longer! Thank you so much Mxfan214, Blackpanther (got another cliffhanger for you!), CatJerica (Ah, you're right, that would have been a good place for Chester to be, lol!), Rain, MariShal, Meg, Jessica (I hope I can keep you guessing for just a little bit longer!), Dusted (THANK YOU!), Fiery Feral (I'm sorry, just one more chapter and then they'll make up!), Garfieldlady, KT (I'm curious to know what your suspicions are!), Mayra. Thank you all so much, your comments are so encouraging! Here's another chapter to add some more confusion to the story for you! :)
All Things—Chapter Fourteen
She couldn't move, held paralyzed by the intense gray eyes of the man in front of her. No. Her mind struggled to come to terms with the reality before her. "You're dead!" She shook her head in denial. "You're not here!"
I've been here all along.
His voice echoed around her, and he leaned closer, lips inches from her ear, smelling her. She trembled, unable to move. The wind stirred, swirling snow around them with growing strength until they were cut off in blinding whiteness and the world around them ceased. It was just her and those piercing gray eyes that swayed and blurred as the moving wall of snow closed in tighter yet. She couldn't breathe, the breath being sucked out of her as pressure built and those eyes mocked her.
Brennan. She struggled to form coherent thought. "You won't get away with this." Her head turned to follow the eyes as they started to circle around her.
He won't believe you. No one will believe you.
"Yes, yes he will!"
He won't believe what he can't see.
Pressure bore down upon her, forcing her to her knees. She snarled, fear and anger coursing through her, and suddenly the wind died, snow dropping around her and coating her with fine powder. She gasped, shoulders slumping, eyes falling shut.
You'll break. You'll be all alone.
Never. She wrenched her eyes open. "Brennan would never leave me."
What makes you think he's still in control?
She whimpered, mind assaulting her with terror as her eyes burned with pain, unable to look away from his stare as time moved in distinct clarity. She was aware of him suddenly kneeling beside her, just as Brennan and Jesse hollered her name in protest. She gasped, the connection abruptly broken by the sound, and blinked Voices faded, and the figure loomed before her in vivid outline against the gray sky, grinning in horrific satisfaction. She blinked again, and he stood back. A third blink and she jerked, startled as Brennan staggered to her and grasped her arm. Didn't they see him? In the fourth blink, Jesse abruptly picked her up, scolding her about the danger of refreezing her feet, and in the fifth blink, the man before her disappeared, a haunting, mocking laugh lingering behind. He was here, playing with them. He had her, but then he let her go.
And it only took him five seconds.
Steven.
"No!" She started to thrash, twisting, head whipping around and staring over Jesse's shoulder back at the grove of maples. He was gone. Lexa was gone as well. Where did they go?
"Shal," Brennan gasped as he struggled to keep up with Jesse's quick strides, Chester tagging along at his feet. "I know you're mad at me right now, but you have to stop fighting us and let us get you inside. It's too dangerous for you to be out here. Your feet."
"Lexa!" She raked her eyes around the grounds, seeing nothing but windswept snowbanks.
Brennan clenched his jaw, "I told you, I was undercover--"
"No!" Shalimar interrupted him, "You don't understand!"
"Shalimar," Jesse grunted as he fought to hold her, "Brennan told me about your argument, and he's right, they were just working. I don't like it either, but--"
"No!" Shalimar wrenched herself out of Jesse's arms, whirling and landing on her feet in a crouch, blocking them from the trees in a protective gesture, eyes glowing as they continued searching.
Footprints.
She stiffened.
Footprints were appearing in the snow; slowly, methodically circling around them. She turned, following their path with a low growl.
Brennan and Jesse shared startled glances, finally realizing she was seeing something they were not. Beside Brennan, Chester growled lowly, ears perked.
"Shal?" Brennan stepped up behind her, knee brushing reassuringly against her back. "What is it?"
"Wait!" Her arm swung out, blocking his knees as he tried to step out next to her. He stopped, holding his breath, eyes darting around the forest.
There was nothing.
"Shalimar?" Jesse tried again after a few moments.
Her breathing was loud in the silence.
"Go back inside." She finally gritted softly, head turning swiftly as there was a loud crack to their left.
They all froze.
The wind roared, kicking up powdery snow as ice covered branches screeched eerily against each other.
"It's nothing." Shalimar blew out her breath after a second, "Just a branch snapping from the cold."
"What's going on, Shal?" Brennan placed a hand on her shoulder.
The footprints stopped.
And then they started to disappear. One print at a time, in frightening reverse. Her heart slammed, blood rushing her ears.
He was playing with her.
They couldn't see him.
But she could.
Her head was throbbing. "We need to get back inside, now."
They nodded, eyeing her as they turned and walked back to Sanctuary. Relief flooded her as she entered; they were safe inside, they had to be. She stared back outside, clutching the door as snow billowed at her feet. The footsteps were completely gone. She shivered and slammed the door, leaning her forehead against it. As soon as the door slid shut, Brennan and Jesse swung around to face her, arms crossed.
"You need to tell us what's wrong, Shalimar." Jesse's brows furrowed together.
"After you get off your feet," Brennan demanded, "No arguments this time. That was foolish, Shal."
She sighed, pushing herself off the door and turning to face him, eyes narrowed as frustration boiled over. "Don't lecture me, Brennan. You're the one who can barely stand up at the moment."
He huffed, glaring back at her.
Jesse rolled his eyes. "Both of you are supposed to be resting or neither of you will heal."
"Jesse, you don't understand." Shalimar clutched his arm with white fingers, "We need to find Lexa, make sure Sanctuary's secure."
"Alright," Jesse determinedly picked her up again, "But first you're going back to the lab."
Brennan pressed his lips together. He was frustrated and angry; over her stubbornness, over their fight, over the fact that his body was too weak to carry her himself. He cursed under his breath, trailing after them, swearing again as he almost tripped over Chester as she hovered at his feet. When the hell would things get back to normal? Nervousness fluttered in his stomach as he caught a glimpse of Shalimar's face peering back at him over Jesse's shoulder. She was terrified, and not just at the current situation, but at something new. Their eyes met, and he suddenly understood; he recognized that look. He had seen it only one other time.
No. He stumbled. Steven?
Yes.
No.
His knees gave out, and he braced himself on the wall for a moment, staring after Shalimar as Jesse didn't notice and kept walking. Their unspoken conversations didn't take him by surprise anymore, somewhere along the way, it had become natural, a connection forged through pain and determination. Steven. He shook his head in disbelief, it was impossible, Steven was dead. He sucked in a breath; maybe Shalimar was just confused again. Maybe it was somehow tied to whatever was wrong with her. She believed he was real, but maybe he wasn't.
Or maybe he was.
Brennan groaned, hands scrubbing across his face as he entered the lab. Jesse was already starting another scan on Shalimar as she lay tense on the bed. Brennan leaned in the doorway, watching as the tinted blue light flooded across her body in a smooth sweep. She impatiently sat up as soon as it finished, beckoning Brennan over.
His earlier frustration melted away at the vulnerable look on her face, and he stepped between her legs, pulling her into a hug. Her back was stiff, but her arms circled his neck, hands digging into his shoulder blades.
His heart constricted; she was shaking, violent tremors that tore from deep within.
He tightened his hold, pressing his lips into her hair. "I'm sorry."
She hiccupped, and he realized she was fighting to control her emotions. His hands moved reassuredly up her sides and across her shoulders to frame her face.
"Hey, it's ok, I'm here."
Her eyes warmed at his whisper, and she leaned into him as his hands circled around to the back of her head, grasping fistfuls of hair as he held her.
"What's going on Shal?" Jesse spoke from across the room, interrupting them.
She pulled back from Brennan's hug, resting a hand on his face as she searched his gaze deeply, silently, for a long moment.
Are you really here?
Brennan's brows furrowed in confusion. Yeah, I'm here.
She bit her lip, nodding quickly, before dropping her hand and turning to Jesse. Brennan sidestepped out from her legs and sat down next to her, his own shaky legs unable to support his weight any longer, taking comfort as Shalimar leaned into him, fingers sliding between his own as she claimed his hand. Chester whined, pawing at Brennan's leg for a moment before laying down, resting her head on his foot with a whine. He absently rubbed her ear with his other foot.
"Shal?" Jesse prompted again.
"I saw Steven outside, Jesse."
His fingers stilled their movements on the keyboard as he froze in shock. "What?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but it makes sense now."
"Wait." Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose. "Steven is dead, Shal. The Dominion took care of him."
"So they said." She clutched tighter to Brennan's hand. "When was the last time they ever told us the truth about anything? We know better than to blindly trust them."
"True," Jesse worried his lower lip, "But I think Lexa would have known, her contact would have told her."
"No." Shalimar cut him off at the mention of Lexa, but didn't elaborate, "He's alive, and he's here. If he gets inside--" Her voice trailed away.
"Hey, it's ok." Brennan pressed a reassuring kiss on her palm. "We just have to stick together, we beat him once, and we can beat him again."
"Still," Jesse frowned, "I'd feel better knowing he's stuck outside." He finished the scan, jumping to his feet. "I'm going to find Lexa, do another sweep. You two stay here."
"Jesse, wait." Brennan called after him. "What about Shal's scan?"
"Still nothing," Jesse turned in the doorway. "I can't find anything wrong with you, Shalimar, other than your blood pressure still being a little high. Any more headaches or nightmares?"
She hesitated.
"Yes." Brennan answered for her.
"Ok, yes," She released Brennan's hand, frowning at him. "But it makes sense now; I think they're somehow being caused by Steven."
"Steven?" Brennan paled, turning toward her.
"I was connected to him for a while, remember?" She rubbed the scars on her hand absently. "I think I subconsciously sensed him, sensed the danger. It was him in my dreams all along."
Jesse nodded, turning back around. "I need to do that sweep. You guys better rest while you can."
Brennan stared at Shalimar strangely as Jesse disappeared.
"What?" She eyed him back, unable to read his look.
"You said the same thing about Lexa."
"What?"
"You thought you sensed something was wrong with her, that it was her in your dreams."
"I was wrong." She crossed to the computer, typing briefly.
"What if you're wrong again?"
"What do you mean?" She looked up sharply.
"About Steven." He limped over to her, grasping her shoulders. "Don't get mad, Shal, I'm just asking you to consider the possibilities."
"Such as?" She turned around to face him.
"Such as maybe Steven isn't really here."
She stared up at him in shock, taking a step back. What makes you think he's still in control? "He's got to you too."
"What?" Brennan reached for her, but she held up a hand.
"Brennan, listen to me." She spoke slowly. "I know you think I'm the one that's sick, but you need to listen to me very carefully. Steven is here, and Lexa is working with him. He's been here all along, playing with us. I think the Dominion is doing some-some sort of sick project and infected Lexa with the serum, and maybe even Steven as well. I don't know why, but they're trying to control us. Everyone thinks I am the one who's sick, but what if it's you?"
"What?" Brennan leaned heavily against the table, "Shalimar, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying it all makes sense!" She rubbed her forehead in aggravation. "Think about it! My supposed symptoms were actually my mind fighting his presence, while you--you and Jesse are actually the ones under Steven's mind control!"
"No." Brennan shook his head. "No, Shal. I'm sorry, but that doesn't make sense. You're just confused."
"No," She laughed mirthlessly. "Don't you get it? It's part of their twisted game, that's why my scans keep coming back clean. I'm fine, how do you explain that?"
"I can't, yet, but I told you, we'll figure it out." Brennan took another step toward her, but she backed away again. " Shal?" He stopped and stared at her in confusion. Chester sat up, anxiously watching them.
"I'm sorry, Brennan, but Steven is alive. I saw him, with Lexa." She backed up another step, hitting the wall. "He's controlling you, you're not yourself. That's why you're not seeing the things I do. That's why you kissed Lexa in the lab. They're playing with us. "
"What?" Brennan raked his hand through his hair. "Shalimar you're--"
"Crazy?" She raised an eyebrow, watching him closely. "Am I?"
"Yes!" Brennan whirled around, hitting his fist on the table. "Why does everything have to be such a damn mess?"
She swallowed tightly. "We've been going about this the wrong way. It's not me!"
"It's not me either!" Brennan whirled back around, forcing eye contact. "Look at me! Tell me you can't tell it's me talking to you right now!"
"I don't know!" She stared back at him, anguish creased across face, hand pressed to her forehead. "I want to trust you."
"And I want to trust you." His voice fell flat as her eyes flared. "But?"
"But you may not know who you are!"
He stormed forward, stopping inches from her. "And I asked you to look at me!"
Heavy tension permeated the silence as they stood in stand-off, and she could feel his hot breath stirring her hair, gaze landing on his heaving chest and rising to his frustrated eyes.
"Ok, Brennan." Her soft tone seemed out of place after the loudness.
He shifted, startled by her quiet admission. "Ok, what?"
"I see you." She cupped his face. "I'm sorry."
His shoulders slumped, and he leaned forward, bracing his arms on either side of her, dropping his head onto her shoulder. "You scared me there, Shal."
"Sorry." Her eyes stared past him as she tightened her fingers in the short hair at the nape of his neck, latching onto the computer screen a few feet away.
"It seems all we do is scare each other lately." Brennan's voice was muffled as he spoke against her shoulder, eyes closed.
"I know." She ran a hand soothingly down his back, distractedly feeling his body trembling from exertion. She narrowed her eyes as a tiny dot on the screen moved. Lexa. She was still outside. And she was not alone. Another moving dot indicated Jesse was circling Sanctuary, but from the inside. Anger boiled, throbbing. "Come on, Brennan." She pushed back on his shoulders, tugging his head up. "You need to lie down."
"Yeah." Brennan took her hand, turning toward the doorway. "So do you, you're not supposed to be on your feet."
She shrugged, forcing her eyes away from the computer and up to his as he glanced down at her. "They don't hurt."
"Good." Brennan chuckled slightly. "Cause every part of me does."
"Here," She pushed him down into a chair, turning and opening a cupboard, pulling out a hypo-spray. She fiddled with it for a moment before turning back toward him. "For the pain."
"I don't want anything that will make me sleep," Brennan protested as she walked back up to him.
"It's ok, it's not a sedative," She glanced down at him. "I promise." She pressed the needle against his neck.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.
Thank you.
She didn't respond, but smiled instead.
It didn't reach her eyes.
His hand shot up, grasping her wrist.
Too late.
Warm liquid flooded his veins, and he instantly felt his body shudder, struggling to hold his head up against the rush of darkness as he fell heavily backward. Her face loomed over him as Chester barked in the background.
Why?
She bared her teeth.
It's not me.