OK, I am not even going to apologize for this having taken so long. The
apology would fall on deaf ears. All I can offer is a promise – to finish
this story in an efficient manner so you guys can enjoy. Now, where was I?
Oh yeah...
"Draper!" Adam yelled for the bottom of the chamber. "Goddamn you Draper, I will kill You! I will kill You if you touch those kids!" Draper heard Adam and smiled as he walked down the hallway to his television viewing area. His plan was finally coming into action and nothing would stop it now. All the players were in place. His cameras were ready, Eckhart was here and Adam was trapped. Now, it would just be the Mutant X team and his minions. His years spent in perfecting his warriors were finally going to pay off and Genomex would be his to run. He was somewhat disappointed that he had lost Jacob in all of this. There was a certain pack of beasts that followed Jacob and now he was not certain where those loyalties were. But he couldn't concern himself with that now. He entered his room and placed the television sets on so he could view the ready room. Shalimar and Emma had been thrown into the room shortly before and he was watching Shalimar stroke Emma's face. He turned the infrared on to view Adam and he searched the tunnels to find Mulwray and Kilmartin. He seethed at the thought of Mulwray escaping. He knew, however, that there was only one way out of the dome if they could not fly out. If Kilmartin and Mulwray had made their way into the tunnel, they would have to scale down the mountain. And down the mountain was where the fun was about to begin. Draper turned and got on his radio. He called a name that he did not often call. "Mr. Homage, are you prepared?"
Another beast, much dirtier and less human than any of the minions in Draper's lair picked up a radio with a furry hand. "Yes sir." The beast drooled as he spat onto the radio.
"The games are about to begin, Mr. Homage. Make certain all of the cameras are in working order and that the devices are secure." Draper replied.
The beast dropped the radio into his pack and looked out over the valley from his lean-to shelter. His fur was brown and filthy, full of leaves and debris. The small amount of clothing he wore was torn and tattered. His fangs dripped with greed and his eyes shown with evil. Behind his eyes, however, was not the mind of a beast. It was an intelligent mind. A closer look at the tattered lab coat revealed a lapel button. Mr. Homage took that button into his hand and fidgeted with it. His memory of the days he proudly pinned it on his lapel were long since exterminated. He no longer was Dr. Marvin Homage, Head Research Scientist for the Breedlove Foundation. Now he was a beast with an agenda. His logic was driven by intelligence, but his actions were driven by insanity. He ripped the button from his lapel and threw it by the shelter. He ran out of the shelter door jumping and calling to the others. An excitement filled the air as 50 or so beasts began to assemble.
XXXXX
Jesse got Brennan out of the tunnel and onto the side of the entrance. He looked down and noticed the length of the descent. He looked over at his fallen comrade and wondered if he would be able to withstand it. Jesse looked at the sky and noticed that the stormy weather seemed to have passed again and they maybe had a little bit of time to do this thing without the added danger of slippery surfaces. Jesse walked over to Brennan and leaned down by him. He was unconscious again. Jesse smiled at him and brushed the hair from his forehead with his right hand. At the same time he was checking for fever. Brennan was still burning up and Jesse noticed a distinct trembling. "Brennan?"
Brennan did not respond. Jesse readjusted his position to get a closer look. He placed both hands on Brennan and checked for a pulse. When he found one, he let out the breath he had been holding and rubbed Brennan's battered face again. "Brennan? Come on Brennan, wake up." Jesse looked up and around them again before looking back down at his friend.
Brennan opened his eyes and blinked them against the light of the day. It had been some time again since they had seen light. Jesse smiled at him and tried to shield him somewhat from the light after noticing his discomfort. "Brennan, we're out. We're out of the tunnel. Now we just have to get down. How do you feel? Are you in severe pain right now? Can you breathe alright?" Jesse was firing questions and Bren was having difficulty keeping up. He raised his hand in effort to stop Jesse from speaking for a second. Jesse stopped and looked at Brennan's hand.
"What? What is it Brennan? Do you need something? " Jesse looked around again and then back down at Brennan. Brennan was somewhat smiling at his friend. "Jess," Brennan coughed. "Slow down, man."
The relief in Jesse's expression was obvious. He smiled down at Brennan and decided to come back at him. "What do you mean slow down? Someone has to use some kind of speed around here Brennan, obviously it ain't gonna be you." Jesse gawked at Brennan and scanned him up and down with his eyes in a manner he knew Brennan would notice.
"You ass hole," Brennan spat at his friend. The seriousness of their situation returned however, when Brennan started coughing violently. Jesse tried to sit him up a bit and put his arm around his shoulders to support him. As Brennan coughed, Jesse looked around. He truly did not know how he was going to get Brennan down that mountain. He looked back into the tunnel wondering what had happened to the others. He looked back down at Brennan and held him a bit tighter. For all he knew, Shal, Em, and Adam were dead. There was no way he was losing Brennan. As Brennan once again lost consciousness, Jesse returned to his pack to start tying ropes. He needed to do something to get them down that mountain before the rains came or something worse.
XXX
Adam was beside himself. He paced the floor of the chamber, stumbling every now and then on the uneven, wet surface. He was cold and wet and worried to death about his kids. Draper was crazy. He was a madman and he had Shalimar and Emma. He thought about Jesse and Brennan. There was no way Brennan could have survived another drowning incident. Poor Jesse, he thought. He would be all alone with Brennan – dead. That was if he were not dead, himself. Adam shook that thought out of his head. They could not be dead, he thought. No. They are way too tough for that. No, if anyone could have pulled them through this, Jesse could. The echo of the dripping water was going to drive him crazy. How did Brennan stay down here by himself, injured yet, for as long as he did? Adam thought. What was Draper going to do with Emma and Shalimar? He had to find a way out of here! He began moving his hands along the sides of the chamber again. There had to be a way out.
Draper watched from his cameras an infrared image of poor, blind Adam trying to find his way – groping along the chamber walls. He smiled from ear to ear at the thought of Adam struggling. Soon he would go and get him. He would rescue him from his chamber of death and throw him into a room where he could watch his kids die one by one. He and Eckhart, both, would be in that room. The same room. Oh how glorious it was all going to be! Draper was finally going to win. He changed camera focus then to a room far below the main facility. There, he saw a frantic Shalimar Fox hovering over her catatonic friend trying desperately to wake her up. Poor thing, Draper thought. Your friend won't wake up until I let her. Draper sent a thought to Emma that made her stop breathing. Emma's eyes flew wide open and she clutched her hands to her throat. Shalimar screamed and shook Emma's shoulders, desperate to find out what was going on. Emma's eyes were wide and screamed at Shalimar to help. Tears flowed freely from them as Emma realized she would die. Shalimar continued to scream out Emma's name, defenseless toward this latest onslaught of terror.
Just as it was getting interesting, Samuel came in and told Draper that Don and the others had arrived with Eckhart and they had placed him in the viewing room as requested. Draper took one last look at the choking Emma and grumbled as he let her go. Emma dragged a ragged, gagging breath into her barren lungs and rolled over onto her knees and choked. Her hands were still around her neck as she vomited onto the floor. Shalimar was fully crying now and held Emma's shoulders. When Emma had finished gasping, Shalimar rolled her into her arms and looked at her wracked face. "Emma!" Shalimar exclaimed as she gently shook her friend. "Emma, please talk to me!" she pleaded. Emma looked at Shalimar and with a ragged voice, she responded. "I'm OK, Shalimar. I'm OK." Emma rolled out of Shalimar's arms and attempted to get to her feet. Shalimar immediately stood and helped Emma steady herself. "It's OK now, Shalimar. He let me go."
Shalimar was completely puzzled. "What do you mean? Emma – who let you go? Draper?"
Emma looked at Shalimar. She shook her head in response and continued to cough the phlegm from her lungs.
"That Bastard!" Shalimar screamed. She went over to the door and began to beat on it with all of her feral strength. It was not use. That door was not going to budge. She whipped around and looked back at Emma, who had calmed somewhat from her harrowing experience. "What does he want with us?" Emma looked at Shalimar and remembered the bits and pieces of information she was able to obtain from Draper as he had invaded her mind. "I don't think you want to know." Emma responded. Just then, a door on the other side of the room unhitched and opened slightly. What appeared to be setting sunlight shown through onto the floor. Shalimar looked at Emma and smiled a puzzled smile. She moved cautiously towards the door. Emma looked around the room and at Shalimar as she approached the door. Emma had a horrible feeling about what was waiting for them outside that door. She knew it was imminent. She knew it was there. She felt it inside her. It was pure evil – pure madness and it was waiting for them.
XXXXX
As Brennan awakened some time later, he could not believe what was happening. He was still alive and with Jesse and actually outside of the tunnels. He recognized that their current location was a bit precarious – on the side of a cliff that seemed to go on forever – but he did not care. He was out of the tunnels and it really seemed like there may be some hope. He remembered bits and pieces of this last time in the tunnel and how Jesse found him – beyond that, he couldn't really remember much of anything. He was feeling better now, though, and his mind was clear. His body hurt terribly but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He knew he was out and with Jesse and there was finally some hope. Maybe Draper wouldn't win after all. He saw Jesse up in front of him. He looked a mess. He was full of what looked like blood and dirt. Why was Jesse covered in blood? Brennan wondered. Then it occurred to him that the blood was most likely his own. Brennan mustered up the strength to lift his head in attempt at viewing his body. He saw blood on his hands and down the front of his shirt. That was all he needed. He laid his head back down on the stokes and swallowed hard. He was dizzy from lifting his head and decided to call out to Jesse.
"Jess!" Brennan mumbled under his breath. He thought he had yelled Jesse's name but realized that he had merely whispered it. He mustered more strength and tried again. "Jess!"
Brennan's cry was louder this time and Jesse thought he heard something. He turned around from surveying the mountainside and saw Brennan's eyes open staring at the sky. He ran over to him.
"Hey," Jesse elated as he slid down to Brennan's side. "You're awake!"
Brennan tried to shift himself in the stokes. He stopped short because of the pain and winced and cried out a small whimper. "Hey, easy Brennan, easy," Jesse told him, concerned about him moving. "It's good enough that you are awake, Brennan. Don't try to move." Jesse lifted his head in a dramatic fashion to get Brennan's mind off of his pain and onto the new situation. "We are out, man. See, I promised you I would get us out and I did." Jesse was smiling from ear to ear in attempt to get Brennan's spirits lifted. He noticed that the glossy sheen that had been in Brennan's eyes ever since they found him near death was now gone and replaced with a look that was strangely more alert.
Brennan turned his head toward Jesse and squeezed Jesse's hand as tightly as he could. Jesse had been holding onto it ever since he slid down next to him. Jesse took his free hand and ran it across Brennan's forehead. He was cool. The burning fever seemed to have subsided. That must be why Brennan looked more alert now. Jesse smiled at the good fortune that his friend may be gaining strength.
Brennan swallowed hard again and looked around as well as he could. "Jess," Brennan breathed. He coughed at this effort to say Jesse's name and Jesse held his free arm around Brennan's shoulders in effort to prop him up slightly to help him cough. When Brennan was done, Jesse laid him back down and removed his arm. Jesse's look of happiness at Brennan's improved condition was once again replaced by one of concern.
"Brennan, don't try to talk. It's OK. I'm here, OK?"
Brennan shook his head from side to side indicating 'No,' that he needed to speak. "Jess, Jess, where are we? Where are the others?" Brennan was gazing into Jesse's eyes with the innocence of a child but the pain of a dog that had just been whipped for no reason. Jesse had to turn away. He looked up over Brennan and across the mountain-scape and then back down at Brennan. He deserved the truth.
"They didn't get out with us, Brennan. But – but I know that they were getting out through another way. You and I, Bren, we got sucked through the chambers. The others made it to the top and I think, got out." Jesse was speaking with a tone of optimism that he did not feel. But if it pacified Brennan, that was all that mattered.
This seemed to work. Brennan's grip on Jesse's hand weakened and he let his eyes drift from Jesse's back towards the sky. Brennan licked his bloodied lips with a swollen tongue. "I'm thirsty," he whispered.
Jesse looked around for his bag. He let go of Brennan's hand and went to grab it. He smiled at the thought of Brennan wanting water. He had been submersed in so much of it in the past 24 hours; Jesse thought he would never want any ever again. "Just a minute, Bren. I have some in a bottle over here." Once Jesse found it, he moved back over to Brennan and placed his right arm around his shoulders to prop him up so he would not choke. He held the bottle to his injured friend's mouth. Brennan attempted to lift his arms up to hold the bottle but only managed to spill it out of Jesse's hands. "Whoa, Brennan, let me do it." Jesse said as he picked it back up and continued. "Go slow, Brennan, not too much." Jesse was very careful with Brennan at this point. The last thing his ravaged lungs and ribs needed was more water. Brennan got it down with minimal choking and allowed Jesse to lay him back down. He looked up at him.
"Thanks, Jess," he said.
Jesse replaced the top of the bottle and put it back in his bag. He looked over at Brennan again. He smiled at the bond he felt with Brennan. Brennan had always taken care of him before and aside from a few misadventures, Brennan was always the one pulling Jesse out of trouble. Now, the tables were turned. "No problem, Brennan. It's just good to see you awake and alert. You've had me pretty scared."
"Jesse, how long we been out here?" Brennan asked.
Jesse went back to preparing his cradle roping to bring the stokes down the mountain safely. He didn't look at Brennan when he replied. "Not long, Brennan. Only for about an hour. You needed rest and I needed to prepare some ropes."
Brennan looked over at Jesse and then down the side of the mountain and back up it as far as he was able to see. "For what?" Brennan asked.
Again Jesse did not look at him. "To get you down the side of the mountain."
Brennan's eyes doubled in size and he looked down again. He let his head come to a hard rest against the back of the stokes. "Jesse, I can get myself down. Just put me in a harness and ease me down. I would feel more comfortable doing that than coming down the side in this thing." Brennan began to try to loosen the cinches.
Jesse smiled at his brave friend. "No, I don't think so, Brennan. You couldn't hold yourself in it and I am afraid you would pass out and end up upside down. I am not going to take that risk. Besides, your ribs and leg are in such bad shape, I am afraid the harness would increase your injuries." Jesse finished tying his cradle and tested its strength. He looked over at Brennan who was eyeing his every move. Jesse began to walk towards Brennan.
He knelt down next to the stokes and began to thread the ropes through to hook up the cradle. Brennan was more than a little nervous.
"Jesse, Jess, come on. You can't lower me. You know you can't. You can't belay me either. I outweigh you." Jesse rolled his eyes at his scared friend and tightened the cinches. Brennan gasped when the one went around his chest. Tears flowed from his eyes and he squeezed them closed. Jesse looked at him in fear. "Brennan!" Jesse screamed. He frantically loosened the cinch and placed his hands gently on Brennan's chest to make sure he was breathing. "I'm sorry, Brennan. God that was stupid!"
Brennan's breaths were coming in short gasps and coughs. He opened his eyes back up and lifted his hand to rest it on Jesse's. He patted his arm as Jesse started to cry. With everything he had, Brennan managed to comfort Jesse. "It's OK, Jess. I'm OK. Just not so tight." Jesse had reached his breaking point. Draper had caused Brennan so much pain. Now he was doing the same thing. He looked at Brennan and wiped his eyes. He took Brennan's hand with his other one. "We are going to get through this Brennan," Jesse proclaimed. Brennan smiled the best smile he could and wasn't sure who Jesse was trying to convince. He shook his head and closed his eyes.
"OK, Jesse, let's get down this hill."
Jesse finished lacing the cradle through the stokes and anchored the line to a sturdy tree stump that protruded from the mountainside. He pushed Brennan's stokes to the side and took one last look at him. "No rocking the boat, Brennan." Jesse said with a smile on his face.
Brennan looked at Jesse and then over the side – He took one final look at Jesse. "Jess," Brennan whispered, "however, this turns out, I need you to know..." Brennan swallowed and Jesse attempted to answer his comment for him.
"I know, Brennan," Jesse interrupted, "I love you too."
Brennan looked at Jesse and smiled, remembering a conversation they had shared once before when Brennan had pulled Jesse from a toxic room in Sanctuary. "No, I want you to know – you suck at basketball," Brennan finished.
Jesse smirked and began to lower him over the side.
"Draper!" Adam yelled for the bottom of the chamber. "Goddamn you Draper, I will kill You! I will kill You if you touch those kids!" Draper heard Adam and smiled as he walked down the hallway to his television viewing area. His plan was finally coming into action and nothing would stop it now. All the players were in place. His cameras were ready, Eckhart was here and Adam was trapped. Now, it would just be the Mutant X team and his minions. His years spent in perfecting his warriors were finally going to pay off and Genomex would be his to run. He was somewhat disappointed that he had lost Jacob in all of this. There was a certain pack of beasts that followed Jacob and now he was not certain where those loyalties were. But he couldn't concern himself with that now. He entered his room and placed the television sets on so he could view the ready room. Shalimar and Emma had been thrown into the room shortly before and he was watching Shalimar stroke Emma's face. He turned the infrared on to view Adam and he searched the tunnels to find Mulwray and Kilmartin. He seethed at the thought of Mulwray escaping. He knew, however, that there was only one way out of the dome if they could not fly out. If Kilmartin and Mulwray had made their way into the tunnel, they would have to scale down the mountain. And down the mountain was where the fun was about to begin. Draper turned and got on his radio. He called a name that he did not often call. "Mr. Homage, are you prepared?"
Another beast, much dirtier and less human than any of the minions in Draper's lair picked up a radio with a furry hand. "Yes sir." The beast drooled as he spat onto the radio.
"The games are about to begin, Mr. Homage. Make certain all of the cameras are in working order and that the devices are secure." Draper replied.
The beast dropped the radio into his pack and looked out over the valley from his lean-to shelter. His fur was brown and filthy, full of leaves and debris. The small amount of clothing he wore was torn and tattered. His fangs dripped with greed and his eyes shown with evil. Behind his eyes, however, was not the mind of a beast. It was an intelligent mind. A closer look at the tattered lab coat revealed a lapel button. Mr. Homage took that button into his hand and fidgeted with it. His memory of the days he proudly pinned it on his lapel were long since exterminated. He no longer was Dr. Marvin Homage, Head Research Scientist for the Breedlove Foundation. Now he was a beast with an agenda. His logic was driven by intelligence, but his actions were driven by insanity. He ripped the button from his lapel and threw it by the shelter. He ran out of the shelter door jumping and calling to the others. An excitement filled the air as 50 or so beasts began to assemble.
XXXXX
Jesse got Brennan out of the tunnel and onto the side of the entrance. He looked down and noticed the length of the descent. He looked over at his fallen comrade and wondered if he would be able to withstand it. Jesse looked at the sky and noticed that the stormy weather seemed to have passed again and they maybe had a little bit of time to do this thing without the added danger of slippery surfaces. Jesse walked over to Brennan and leaned down by him. He was unconscious again. Jesse smiled at him and brushed the hair from his forehead with his right hand. At the same time he was checking for fever. Brennan was still burning up and Jesse noticed a distinct trembling. "Brennan?"
Brennan did not respond. Jesse readjusted his position to get a closer look. He placed both hands on Brennan and checked for a pulse. When he found one, he let out the breath he had been holding and rubbed Brennan's battered face again. "Brennan? Come on Brennan, wake up." Jesse looked up and around them again before looking back down at his friend.
Brennan opened his eyes and blinked them against the light of the day. It had been some time again since they had seen light. Jesse smiled at him and tried to shield him somewhat from the light after noticing his discomfort. "Brennan, we're out. We're out of the tunnel. Now we just have to get down. How do you feel? Are you in severe pain right now? Can you breathe alright?" Jesse was firing questions and Bren was having difficulty keeping up. He raised his hand in effort to stop Jesse from speaking for a second. Jesse stopped and looked at Brennan's hand.
"What? What is it Brennan? Do you need something? " Jesse looked around again and then back down at Brennan. Brennan was somewhat smiling at his friend. "Jess," Brennan coughed. "Slow down, man."
The relief in Jesse's expression was obvious. He smiled down at Brennan and decided to come back at him. "What do you mean slow down? Someone has to use some kind of speed around here Brennan, obviously it ain't gonna be you." Jesse gawked at Brennan and scanned him up and down with his eyes in a manner he knew Brennan would notice.
"You ass hole," Brennan spat at his friend. The seriousness of their situation returned however, when Brennan started coughing violently. Jesse tried to sit him up a bit and put his arm around his shoulders to support him. As Brennan coughed, Jesse looked around. He truly did not know how he was going to get Brennan down that mountain. He looked back into the tunnel wondering what had happened to the others. He looked back down at Brennan and held him a bit tighter. For all he knew, Shal, Em, and Adam were dead. There was no way he was losing Brennan. As Brennan once again lost consciousness, Jesse returned to his pack to start tying ropes. He needed to do something to get them down that mountain before the rains came or something worse.
XXX
Adam was beside himself. He paced the floor of the chamber, stumbling every now and then on the uneven, wet surface. He was cold and wet and worried to death about his kids. Draper was crazy. He was a madman and he had Shalimar and Emma. He thought about Jesse and Brennan. There was no way Brennan could have survived another drowning incident. Poor Jesse, he thought. He would be all alone with Brennan – dead. That was if he were not dead, himself. Adam shook that thought out of his head. They could not be dead, he thought. No. They are way too tough for that. No, if anyone could have pulled them through this, Jesse could. The echo of the dripping water was going to drive him crazy. How did Brennan stay down here by himself, injured yet, for as long as he did? Adam thought. What was Draper going to do with Emma and Shalimar? He had to find a way out of here! He began moving his hands along the sides of the chamber again. There had to be a way out.
Draper watched from his cameras an infrared image of poor, blind Adam trying to find his way – groping along the chamber walls. He smiled from ear to ear at the thought of Adam struggling. Soon he would go and get him. He would rescue him from his chamber of death and throw him into a room where he could watch his kids die one by one. He and Eckhart, both, would be in that room. The same room. Oh how glorious it was all going to be! Draper was finally going to win. He changed camera focus then to a room far below the main facility. There, he saw a frantic Shalimar Fox hovering over her catatonic friend trying desperately to wake her up. Poor thing, Draper thought. Your friend won't wake up until I let her. Draper sent a thought to Emma that made her stop breathing. Emma's eyes flew wide open and she clutched her hands to her throat. Shalimar screamed and shook Emma's shoulders, desperate to find out what was going on. Emma's eyes were wide and screamed at Shalimar to help. Tears flowed freely from them as Emma realized she would die. Shalimar continued to scream out Emma's name, defenseless toward this latest onslaught of terror.
Just as it was getting interesting, Samuel came in and told Draper that Don and the others had arrived with Eckhart and they had placed him in the viewing room as requested. Draper took one last look at the choking Emma and grumbled as he let her go. Emma dragged a ragged, gagging breath into her barren lungs and rolled over onto her knees and choked. Her hands were still around her neck as she vomited onto the floor. Shalimar was fully crying now and held Emma's shoulders. When Emma had finished gasping, Shalimar rolled her into her arms and looked at her wracked face. "Emma!" Shalimar exclaimed as she gently shook her friend. "Emma, please talk to me!" she pleaded. Emma looked at Shalimar and with a ragged voice, she responded. "I'm OK, Shalimar. I'm OK." Emma rolled out of Shalimar's arms and attempted to get to her feet. Shalimar immediately stood and helped Emma steady herself. "It's OK now, Shalimar. He let me go."
Shalimar was completely puzzled. "What do you mean? Emma – who let you go? Draper?"
Emma looked at Shalimar. She shook her head in response and continued to cough the phlegm from her lungs.
"That Bastard!" Shalimar screamed. She went over to the door and began to beat on it with all of her feral strength. It was not use. That door was not going to budge. She whipped around and looked back at Emma, who had calmed somewhat from her harrowing experience. "What does he want with us?" Emma looked at Shalimar and remembered the bits and pieces of information she was able to obtain from Draper as he had invaded her mind. "I don't think you want to know." Emma responded. Just then, a door on the other side of the room unhitched and opened slightly. What appeared to be setting sunlight shown through onto the floor. Shalimar looked at Emma and smiled a puzzled smile. She moved cautiously towards the door. Emma looked around the room and at Shalimar as she approached the door. Emma had a horrible feeling about what was waiting for them outside that door. She knew it was imminent. She knew it was there. She felt it inside her. It was pure evil – pure madness and it was waiting for them.
XXXXX
As Brennan awakened some time later, he could not believe what was happening. He was still alive and with Jesse and actually outside of the tunnels. He recognized that their current location was a bit precarious – on the side of a cliff that seemed to go on forever – but he did not care. He was out of the tunnels and it really seemed like there may be some hope. He remembered bits and pieces of this last time in the tunnel and how Jesse found him – beyond that, he couldn't really remember much of anything. He was feeling better now, though, and his mind was clear. His body hurt terribly but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He knew he was out and with Jesse and there was finally some hope. Maybe Draper wouldn't win after all. He saw Jesse up in front of him. He looked a mess. He was full of what looked like blood and dirt. Why was Jesse covered in blood? Brennan wondered. Then it occurred to him that the blood was most likely his own. Brennan mustered up the strength to lift his head in attempt at viewing his body. He saw blood on his hands and down the front of his shirt. That was all he needed. He laid his head back down on the stokes and swallowed hard. He was dizzy from lifting his head and decided to call out to Jesse.
"Jess!" Brennan mumbled under his breath. He thought he had yelled Jesse's name but realized that he had merely whispered it. He mustered more strength and tried again. "Jess!"
Brennan's cry was louder this time and Jesse thought he heard something. He turned around from surveying the mountainside and saw Brennan's eyes open staring at the sky. He ran over to him.
"Hey," Jesse elated as he slid down to Brennan's side. "You're awake!"
Brennan tried to shift himself in the stokes. He stopped short because of the pain and winced and cried out a small whimper. "Hey, easy Brennan, easy," Jesse told him, concerned about him moving. "It's good enough that you are awake, Brennan. Don't try to move." Jesse lifted his head in a dramatic fashion to get Brennan's mind off of his pain and onto the new situation. "We are out, man. See, I promised you I would get us out and I did." Jesse was smiling from ear to ear in attempt to get Brennan's spirits lifted. He noticed that the glossy sheen that had been in Brennan's eyes ever since they found him near death was now gone and replaced with a look that was strangely more alert.
Brennan turned his head toward Jesse and squeezed Jesse's hand as tightly as he could. Jesse had been holding onto it ever since he slid down next to him. Jesse took his free hand and ran it across Brennan's forehead. He was cool. The burning fever seemed to have subsided. That must be why Brennan looked more alert now. Jesse smiled at the good fortune that his friend may be gaining strength.
Brennan swallowed hard again and looked around as well as he could. "Jess," Brennan breathed. He coughed at this effort to say Jesse's name and Jesse held his free arm around Brennan's shoulders in effort to prop him up slightly to help him cough. When Brennan was done, Jesse laid him back down and removed his arm. Jesse's look of happiness at Brennan's improved condition was once again replaced by one of concern.
"Brennan, don't try to talk. It's OK. I'm here, OK?"
Brennan shook his head from side to side indicating 'No,' that he needed to speak. "Jess, Jess, where are we? Where are the others?" Brennan was gazing into Jesse's eyes with the innocence of a child but the pain of a dog that had just been whipped for no reason. Jesse had to turn away. He looked up over Brennan and across the mountain-scape and then back down at Brennan. He deserved the truth.
"They didn't get out with us, Brennan. But – but I know that they were getting out through another way. You and I, Bren, we got sucked through the chambers. The others made it to the top and I think, got out." Jesse was speaking with a tone of optimism that he did not feel. But if it pacified Brennan, that was all that mattered.
This seemed to work. Brennan's grip on Jesse's hand weakened and he let his eyes drift from Jesse's back towards the sky. Brennan licked his bloodied lips with a swollen tongue. "I'm thirsty," he whispered.
Jesse looked around for his bag. He let go of Brennan's hand and went to grab it. He smiled at the thought of Brennan wanting water. He had been submersed in so much of it in the past 24 hours; Jesse thought he would never want any ever again. "Just a minute, Bren. I have some in a bottle over here." Once Jesse found it, he moved back over to Brennan and placed his right arm around his shoulders to prop him up so he would not choke. He held the bottle to his injured friend's mouth. Brennan attempted to lift his arms up to hold the bottle but only managed to spill it out of Jesse's hands. "Whoa, Brennan, let me do it." Jesse said as he picked it back up and continued. "Go slow, Brennan, not too much." Jesse was very careful with Brennan at this point. The last thing his ravaged lungs and ribs needed was more water. Brennan got it down with minimal choking and allowed Jesse to lay him back down. He looked up at him.
"Thanks, Jess," he said.
Jesse replaced the top of the bottle and put it back in his bag. He looked over at Brennan again. He smiled at the bond he felt with Brennan. Brennan had always taken care of him before and aside from a few misadventures, Brennan was always the one pulling Jesse out of trouble. Now, the tables were turned. "No problem, Brennan. It's just good to see you awake and alert. You've had me pretty scared."
"Jesse, how long we been out here?" Brennan asked.
Jesse went back to preparing his cradle roping to bring the stokes down the mountain safely. He didn't look at Brennan when he replied. "Not long, Brennan. Only for about an hour. You needed rest and I needed to prepare some ropes."
Brennan looked over at Jesse and then down the side of the mountain and back up it as far as he was able to see. "For what?" Brennan asked.
Again Jesse did not look at him. "To get you down the side of the mountain."
Brennan's eyes doubled in size and he looked down again. He let his head come to a hard rest against the back of the stokes. "Jesse, I can get myself down. Just put me in a harness and ease me down. I would feel more comfortable doing that than coming down the side in this thing." Brennan began to try to loosen the cinches.
Jesse smiled at his brave friend. "No, I don't think so, Brennan. You couldn't hold yourself in it and I am afraid you would pass out and end up upside down. I am not going to take that risk. Besides, your ribs and leg are in such bad shape, I am afraid the harness would increase your injuries." Jesse finished tying his cradle and tested its strength. He looked over at Brennan who was eyeing his every move. Jesse began to walk towards Brennan.
He knelt down next to the stokes and began to thread the ropes through to hook up the cradle. Brennan was more than a little nervous.
"Jesse, Jess, come on. You can't lower me. You know you can't. You can't belay me either. I outweigh you." Jesse rolled his eyes at his scared friend and tightened the cinches. Brennan gasped when the one went around his chest. Tears flowed from his eyes and he squeezed them closed. Jesse looked at him in fear. "Brennan!" Jesse screamed. He frantically loosened the cinch and placed his hands gently on Brennan's chest to make sure he was breathing. "I'm sorry, Brennan. God that was stupid!"
Brennan's breaths were coming in short gasps and coughs. He opened his eyes back up and lifted his hand to rest it on Jesse's. He patted his arm as Jesse started to cry. With everything he had, Brennan managed to comfort Jesse. "It's OK, Jess. I'm OK. Just not so tight." Jesse had reached his breaking point. Draper had caused Brennan so much pain. Now he was doing the same thing. He looked at Brennan and wiped his eyes. He took Brennan's hand with his other one. "We are going to get through this Brennan," Jesse proclaimed. Brennan smiled the best smile he could and wasn't sure who Jesse was trying to convince. He shook his head and closed his eyes.
"OK, Jesse, let's get down this hill."
Jesse finished lacing the cradle through the stokes and anchored the line to a sturdy tree stump that protruded from the mountainside. He pushed Brennan's stokes to the side and took one last look at him. "No rocking the boat, Brennan." Jesse said with a smile on his face.
Brennan looked at Jesse and then over the side – He took one final look at Jesse. "Jess," Brennan whispered, "however, this turns out, I need you to know..." Brennan swallowed and Jesse attempted to answer his comment for him.
"I know, Brennan," Jesse interrupted, "I love you too."
Brennan looked at Jesse and smiled, remembering a conversation they had shared once before when Brennan had pulled Jesse from a toxic room in Sanctuary. "No, I want you to know – you suck at basketball," Brennan finished.
Jesse smirked and began to lower him over the side.