Captain Dorrence radioed to the other two helicopters that he thought he had coordinates set on Mr. Eckhart's location.

"This is Genomex two, we have location of Genomex one, over."

"Thank goodness that storm ended. We have read the coordinates sent, Genomex two, we checked that area over an hour ago. Nothing was there. You must be incorrect Genomex two, run a system check, over."

"Rodger that, have run the check two times. I don't know why it wasn't there before, but it is now. We are setting up for landing, over."

"Ten Four, that, Genomex two. We are about 20 minutes behind you. Maintain location at landing site until our arrival."

"Ten Four, out."

XXXXXX

Jesse made his way to the cave he had found earlier that evening when he and Brennan first arrived the ledge. Brennan moaned as Jesse tugged him along. "God, Brennan, what have you been eating? I swear you get heavier every time I pick you up."

Jesse laid him down once he got him into the mouth of the cave. "Maybe you should stop trying to pick me up, Jesse, you know I'm into the ladies."

Jesse smiled. "You're awake."

"Yeah, I was afraid you were going to molest me, so I made sure I stayed alert."

"Would you shut up?" Jesse noted that Brennan was merely slurring his words and didn't really have his eyes open, but if he was in good enough shape to have the energy to joke with him, he must be feeling a little better. Brennan groaned as Jesse moved him farther into the cave. He half drug, have lifted him. He wanted to get them as far in as possible so that their body heat could keep them warm over the night. The cave was small but would work.

Jesse came back around to Brennan's side and began fidgeting with his clothes. He tried to get the fibers that were melted to his skin away from his skin while they were still wet. "Brennan, do you feel this?" Jesse asked realizing this had to hurt like hell.

No answer came from Brennan. Jesse looked up at this face and noted he must be asleep again. He felt his forehead. His skin there was hot. "I hope that's from the skin burn and not a fever, Brennan," Jesse told him. Again, Brennan didn't answer.

When he felt he had removed as much of the burnt clothing as possible, Jesse sat back against the cave wall. His head really hurt and he felt like throwing up again. The look of Brennan's burns didn't help that sensation. He saw that Brennan was shivering every now and then which confirmed his suspicions. The fever was back and it was high. Jesse took off his outer shirt and laid it over Brennan to try to keep him warm. He activated his comlink knowing it wouldn't work but praying that maybe he would get a miracle.

"This is Jesse. Is anyone able to hear me?"

XXXXXX

Shalimar found a rock overhang that would work nicely as a shelter for her and Emma until morning. Emma still had not awakened from the knockout punch she had received from Shalimar. Shalimar tapped Emma's face trying to wake her up. There was a good-sized bruise forming where she had hit her. Shalimar winced at its site. "Gonna take some makeup to cover that for a couple of weeks."

"Emma, come on sweetie wake up," Shalimar soothed as she continued tapping Emma's face lightly. She smiled when Emma's eyes opened. "There you are," she said sitting back on her knees.

"Where are we?" Emma asked as she sat up leaning on her elbows. She turned her head in all directions trying to figure out where she was. Then, she rubbed her face with one of her hands.

"Sorry bout that," Shalimar said sheepishly. "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah," Emma replied. "What happened?"

"I had to hit you," Shalimar said matter-of-factly.

"You hit me?" Emma wailed.

"Yes!" Shalimar defended. "You were going to get yourself killed linking with Draper the way you did. I didn't have a choice."

Emma just rubbed her face. Shalimar jumped when she heard Jesse's voice over her link.

"Jesse?" Shalimar exclaimed. Emma heard it too. "Thank God."

"Where are you?" Shalimar inquired, already peering outside into the coming darkness.

"In a cave," Jesse replied. "Is Emma or Adam with you?"

Shalimar saddened. She realized that, if Jesse was asking if Adam was with her, obviously he wasn't with him, either. "Yes, Jesse, Emma is with me. Not Adam, though."

"Damn," Jesse said.

"Jess, do you have Brennan?" Emma asked. He probably did or he wouldn't have just asked about she and Adam, but she wanted to make sure.

"Yeah, he's with me."

You didn't have to be an empath like Emma to hear the worry in his voice. "How is he Jess?" Shalimar asked not really wanting to know the answer given Jesse's obvious concern.

The comlink was silent. "Jesse?" Emma asked. She looked at Shalimar fearing the answer.

"He's not good," Jesse finally answered with a slight crack in his voice. "He had some sort of a mutation, I think. It must be the stress on his system. I don't know. He's burned, you guys. He's burned pretty badly."

Shalimar looked at Emma obviously shocked. "Burned? Jesse, did you say Brennan was burned?"

"Yes, Shal, he has what I feel are at least second degree burns on parts of his face, legs, and arms. There are spots on his legs that look third degree. His clothes were melted to his skin."

"Oh my God," Emma whispered. Shalimar had tears in her eyes knowing that they were too far from any hospital even if they could leave right now. "He's not going to make it," Shalimar whispered to Emma. Emma didn't argue with her.

"You guys?" Jesse asked.

"We're here, Jess."

"We have to hook up. We gotta get him outta here and I mean right now," Jesse expressed.

"I know, Jesse. Where do you think you are?" Shalimar asked. She focused on finding Jesse. That kept her mind from focusing on the Brennan's impending demise.

"Shal, remember how high we were on the west side of the cliff when we first entered the compound?"

"Yeah," Shal said.

"I am still right next to the main mountain and down maybe 100 feet from that location."

"Jess, you must be right above us," Shalimar exclaimed, suddenly hopeful.

"Just a minute," Jesse said. He heard Brennan whimpering in the corner where he had tucked him away. "Brennan, you OK, bro?" Jesse asked, fidgeting with him again, checking the temperature of his forehead.

"I really hurt, Jess," he replied with tears running from his eyes. "I'm not gonna make it out of here, Jesse. I heard Shalimar on the comlink. You guys are close – really close. You three can make it down the mountain and get help…"

"Brennan, I am not leaving you here. This entire mission was to come and get you. I am not leaving without you," Jesse didn't like Brennan's attitude. People, who talked about dying when they were injured, usually died.

"Jess, you can help me a lot more by bringing back … help," Brennan began a coughing spell again. This time, blood and mucus came up. Brennan was really struggling to keep breathing.

"Shal, can you climb?"

XXXXX

Adam made his way through the compound hallways. Emergency lighting was on so he was able to see. As he emerged around one the corners, he saw Draper leaving a room with a raincoat on. Adam tucked back in the corner so he wouldn't see him. Adam fought with his scientific curiosity whether to go into the room Draper just left or to follow Draper and get outside to find the kids. He figured Draper was heading out if he had rain gear on. Adam made a mental note of the rooms' location and followed Draper at a safe distance. He would find the team first, then come back and explore.