Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I'm so sorry yet again for the slower posting! These stories take several months to write, so it was either post it as I'm writing it or wait a long time and then post it faster once it's finished. So I hope I can start posting more often once I get further along in the story. I'm currently in the middle of chapter six, so am just slightly ahead of what I am posting. Thank you so much to those of you still here with me! I cannot thank you enough for your encouragement! Stephanie, I'm a huge B/S fan, so while I do love to torture them a bit, just remember that I love happy endings. :) Thank you! Blackpanther, you've been there with me for every story, I can't thank you enough! I'm doing my best to add more J/E for you, so hopefully more will be coming soon! Susie, your encouragement again means so much to me, thank you! There will be some trouble coming up ahead, but bear with me. I don't want to say too much, but I do have plans for Alex as well! Rain, I love your guesses! You always keep me on my toes. Thank you! Christina, thank you so much! I'm so glad to know you're enjoying it. Mayra, thank you! I'm trying my best to keep these guys alive a little bit longer. :) Courtney, MariShal, Marie Crosby, ShalFan, thank you so much for your comments! They bring a smile to my face. CatJerica, glad you noticed the "later," lol, I wanted to have a little more fun with that one. I'll try to add more girl talk for you as well! Here's another chapter for you all, I hope you enjoy!
Traveling On—Chapter Three
She watched him.
In the early morning light, he lay beside her, and she couldn't get enough of him. Brennan stirred slightly, and she feared he would awake, hoping for a few more minutes. She wanted a few more minutes to just look at him.
Long lashes rested against tanned skin, flickering occasionally as eyes darted in sleep. She ran her hand lightly against his cheek, wondering what he dreamt about. He looked so young when he slept, stress lines eased into boyish innocence. They had all lost too much of their innocence, seeing more than their share of the darkness in the world. It was that awareness that made her cling all the more tightly to this moment, to the silencing of the abyss that always threatened them.
Even now.
No, she shook her head in determination.
Not now.
She yawned, stretching cautiously, pleased that her deep bruises were almost healed, that the sickness that had assaulted her the past few days had finally subsided. Her stomach growled, and the sound made her smile. For the first time in two days, she was hungry, but she didn't move, propping her head up with her hand as she continued to watch him.
He stirred again, eyes opening slightly, squinting in the morning light. He smiled, eyes closing again as he gathered the energy to move. "Hey," He whispered, voice heavy with sleep.
She didn't answer, but smiled back at him as he rolled onto his side to face her, propping himself up on one elbow in mimic of her position.
"How're you feeling?"
"Better." Her stomach growled again, bringing a wide grin to both their faces.
"I'm glad." Brennan reached across the space between them, brushing his hand down her arm in a warm sweep before coming to rest on her hip. He shifted his body, closing the gap between them. "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long," She looked him over as his eyes drifted closed again. The blankets had shifted when he turned, dropping to his waist, and she couldn't help but admire his bare chest, the way his muscles tucked into the narrow line of his hip, tempting her eyes lower.
This time he sensed her gaze, cracking one eye open. "Can't sleep?" If he hadn't been so tired, he wouldn't have missed the faint blush on her cheeks as she hastily looked back up into his face.
It took a moment for his question to register. "Not really." She sighed when he drew the covers back up, inadvertently taking away her view.
"Roll over."
That got her attention. She arched an eyebrow.
Brennan grinned. "Trust me."
She threw him another questioning glance, but did as he asked, lying down on her stomach.
"My mom used to do this for me when I couldn't sleep." Brennan explained, pressing a kiss to the tip of her ear as he sat up beside her. He put a gentle hand on her back, just below her shoulder blades, moving it in slow circles up and down her spine.
"You don't talk about your mom very much," Shalimar gently commented, relaxing at his touch, letting her head sink heavy into the downy pillow.
"Yeah, it's—it's hard sometimes, you know?" Brennan didn't elaborate. He had been dreaming of his mother lately, of the time before her death. He remembered the pendant she had given him, and bit his lip, wondering what Shalimar's reaction would be if he gave it to her, if she would understand the implications of the love that it represented. He had never thought about giving it to anyone else before.
"Yeah." Shalimar sighed into her pillow. There was a lot about her own childhood she hadn't shared either. It was hard to talk about, to think about. She pushed the thought aside, concentrating instead on the moment. His touch sent chills through her body, and she eventually relaxed, eyes fluttering shut, sighing softly, arms hugging her pillow.
They were silent for long moments, his hands soothing her, until she almost slept beneath his touch.
"Do you remember the first time I did this?" His voice rumbled low in her ear as his hands eventually pressed a little harder, traveling lower down her back until lingering just above the edge of her shirt. She nodded silently, remembering. He had been so tentative out in the woods, fingers kneading her neck, testing and exploring. He kissed her again, and she could feel his smile. "I had wanted to touch you for so long."
She felt him pull her shirt up a little as his hand slipped up beneath the fabric. The sensation on her bare skin made her shiver again, chasing away any desire for sleep. "No one's stopping you now."
"No." His soft laugh was dark and rich, body shifting to lie back down beside her. His hand followed her as she turned to face him, fingers teasing the sensitive skin of her stomach.
They stared at each other for a moment, waiting for the other to make a move, waiting for something to interrupt them.
But nothing happened.
Shalimar allowed one corner of her mouth to tilt up in a smile. Brennan leaned slightly towards her as he quirked a brow, raising his hand to brush her hair back before bringing his mouth to hers in a slow kiss. She whimpered lowly when too soon he pulled away.
"Brennan?"
He shook his head, finger on her lip and she fell silent, holding her breath, listening.
They lay in silence, again waiting.
"Just checking." His half smile turned into a full fledged grin, and her heart beating triple time when she realized he was teasing her.
Amber brown eyes rose languidly to meet chocolate brown, catching his hand as it fell away from her lips, turning hers until their palms were touching. His eyes darkened, fingers flexing to capture hers between his so that their hands were touching at every available inch of skin, thumb caressing the back of her hand. He tilted his head to speak again, and she suddenly found herself fascinated with his lips.
When Brennan realized she hadn't heard a word he said, he smiled. She smiled in return, gaze shooting to his, eyes beginning to sparkle in shared understanding.
He leaned closer, and she inhaled the heady scent of him as his fingers began to move again, tenderly releasing hers and moving back to tuck a tendril of hair behind her ear. He circled her lips, dropping to squeeze her shoulder before slipping an index finger under the strap of her cotton camisole. She lay still as he lightly ran his finger down along the inside path of the fabric in a slow, sensual caress. He didn't even realize he'd been holding his breath until she pushed forward, catching his lips. He groaned, pulling her closer as her arms snaked up his chest and around his neck. The kiss quickly segued into something deeper, kissing as they had always wanted to kiss. Slowly. With passion. His hands slid back under her shirt, pushing it up slightly as he stroked her back. The feel of skin on skin contact again stole her breath, and she rolled on top of him as his palms slowly smoothed up her sides.
"Are you here, Shal?" His hands paused as he whispered, breaking the kiss to pull back and study her.
"Yeah." She smiled tenderly at his concern, and he reached up, threading his hands through her hair to better see her face. He could see the shimmering of her eyes, her expression one he was quickly learning to associate with a declaration of love. He brought his lips back to hers in an exquisite kiss, wordlessly telling her of his own love. She dug her fingers into his shoulder blades as he rolled them again, sliding down her body as he dropped his lips to her neck.
It was soft, almost unnoticeable at first, first one, than the other, but the persistent chirp of both their comlinks going off at once brought them to a halt. Shalimar felt Brennan's huff of disbelief against her skin, writhing in frustration as his lips left her neck, cold air rushing against her heated skin as he rolled off her.
"Brennan, Shalimar." Adam's voice called for them before either could speak. "I need to see both of you immediately."
"How does he always know—" Brennan's growl was loud in the ensuring silence. "It's like he has radar tuned into prevent any sex in Sanctuary."
For some of us anyway. Her lips twisted wryly in frustrated humor.
Brennan glowered even more when he saw her smile. "It's not funny, Shal."
Her over-sensitized skin burned as he left the bed, and she watched him walk gingerly toward the bathroom. She flopped spread-eagle back onto the bed as he quietly closed the door, listening to the spray of water as it turned on full force.
Suddenly it didn't seem so funny to her either.
"Maybe you should try calling them again." Jesse rapped his fingers impatiently against the metal of the table where he sat, chin propped with one hand.
Emma watched his long fingers as they drummed rapidly, the sound loud in the quiet of the lab. She reached over after a moment to still them. There was a lot of impatient energy in the air this morning, and it was beginning to take its strain. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
Adam didn't answer, engrossed in his computer, and Jesse pushed off the table, spinning in his chair. "Adam?"
"They're coming, Jess." Emma spoke softly. "They're not too happy about being interrupted."
"Interrupted…oh." A look of pained understanding flashed across his face. He glanced over at Adam, lowering his voice. "You can feel that?" He turned his hand under hers, twining their fingers. "You know that they—"
"Not usually." Emma dropped her eyes. "I've worked hard to build blocks for intense emotions, but sometimes…" She shrugged, eyes searching a random spot across the room. "Sometimes—"
"They get through anyway." Jesse finished for her as she nodded. "I'm sorry, Emma."
She shrugged again. "I know then that I have to build higher walls."
Jesse watched her face for a moment, knowing there was more than she was revealing. "That's got to be a hard way to live," He prompted when she stayed silent.
"Yeah, sometimes."
Jesse waited for her to elaborate, but her eyes were locked on Adam, a small frown playing around her lips.
"Emma?" Jesse tugged on her fingers.
"Here they come," She raised her voice, turning her chair toward the door.
He let her change the subject, watching as Shalimar crossed into the room, leaning against a med bed by Adam. Jesse couldn't help but wince sympathetically as Brennan hovered in the doorway, leaning moodily against the frame, arms crossed. They were all too quickly learning that having a relationship within Sanctuary was not an easy thing even at the best of times. He gave Emma's fingers an unobtrusive squeeze before releasing them.
"Adam." Brennan cleared his throat to get his attention.
"Ah, good, you're all here." Adam glanced up distractedly from his computer, "How are you feeling, Shalimar?"
"Back to normal." She flashed him a grin.
"Good." He looked pleased at her words.
"What's up, Adam?" Jesse prompted after a moment, reminding him why they were all there.
"We've got some follow-up work on one of our missions."
"Is it Danny?" Brennan straightened up slightly from the door, showing interest for the first time.
"No," Adam glanced over his shoulder at the tall elemental, "Although I would like you to follow up later with Dave to make sure everything went smoothly."
"Danny?" Shalimar look confused.
"The little boy we put underground; he was basically abandoned by his father." Although Brennan's words were low, quickly filling Shalimar in, his face hardened in remembrance at the thought of what the little boy had to go through. He leaned back against the door frame.
Shalimar's own jaw clenched in understanding, looking away in painful reminder. It was the second time recently she had thought about her own childhood abandonment, and knew she had a lot more in common with the boy than any of them knew about. She shook her head as Adam paused, looking at her in concern. She forced a smile, and he nodded in return, turning back around to his computer.
"This one is actually related to what Jesse's been working on." Adam glanced over at the younger man. "I've received word that something big is being sold on the black market. Jesse's been trying to decode it, but unfortunately the sellers are moving before we've been able to determine what it is."
"So what's our interest in this?" Shalimar peered over Adam's shoulder at his computer.
"Well, I can't say exactly," Adam's face was inscrutable. "But I do know that Eckhart is also interested, which makes us as well."
"Eckhart?" Brennan straightened up again. "Do you think Alex could be involved as well?" His brother had left a few days ago in search of their nemesis and hadn't been heard from since.
"Not that I know of," Adam glanced over at the elemental. "But I'm sure he will contact us if he needs help."
"Yeah," Brennan shoved his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched slightly. "So what's the plan?"
"I want us to pose as buyers. The game is simple; whoever makes the highest bid, wins."
"Something tells me that will be us." Jesse rubbed his hands together with a grin.
"You got it." Adam nodded at him. "Jesse, I want you to make the offer. Emma, Shalimar, Brennan, you will be watching from a discreet distance." He looked around the room at each of them. "Eckhart hasn't shown this much movement in a long time. It is important that we get whatever is being sold." He paused, deliberately making eye contact with each of them. "In light of what just happened the last time we went after the same thing Eckhart wanted, I suggest you all be on high alert."
The team nodded, anticipation rising as they got to their feet, recognizing the end of the meeting. They exchanged grim glances as they quietly loaded their gear into the helix. It had become a sort of ritual for them, nervous energy driving them silent. Adrenaline always pumped at the start of every mission, never knowing what could happen. And this time was no different.
"Hey, you ok?" Jesse looked at Shalimar in concern when he scooted out from under the helix and found her staring at the wing, running her hand along the cool metal.
"What? Yeah." She looked over him, but Jesse had the feeling she wasn't really seeing him.
He paused to wipe his hands clean on a soft towel, throwing it over his shoulder. "Maintenance cleared," He reported to Adam, mentally going through the various checks in his head.
"Thanks, Jesse." Adam's voice intoned back at them.
Jesse nodded, forgetting the older man couldn't see him. Brennan and Emma were already inside, and he knew they must be as anxious as he was to get going. Once they knew they had a mission, waiting became hell. It was almost easier to actually face the danger than to sit around and worry about it. He sighed as he walked; this part was always the worst. And this time, he would be the one initiating the contact. A lot of this mission would be up to him. He grinned in anticipation. It took him a few more steps to realize Shalimar wasn't beside him.
"Talk to me, Shal." He walked back toward her, watching as she pressed her cheek against the smooth metal of the helix.
She looked at him, sighing as she pushed off the plane, moving forward to meet him. He caught her arm as she stepped past him. "It's nothing, really."
"Are you upset about this morning?"
"This morning?" She looked at him in confusion.
"Yeah." Jesse fiddled slightly, looking embarrassed. "Emma told me that you were, you know, interrupted."
Shalimar's eyes widened in understanding, before narrowing slightly. "I'll have to talk to Emma about that later."
Jesse smiled. "Don't worry, she mentioned something about having to build up higher walls now."
"Yeah." Shalimar's eyes rolled back wryly. "Guess there has been an increase of emotion around here lately."
They exchanged smiles, walking side by side toward the gaping door in the belly of the helix.
"So?" Jesse nudged her gently when she fell silent.
"I was thinking about this mission." Shalimar paused on the ramp, looking back over her shoulder at the Molecular. "I can't shake this feeling I'm missing something."
Brennan looked up as they entered, picking up their words. "You really couldn't decode what this thing being sold was?"
Jesse shook his head, settling into his seat. Emma had already powered up his terminal, and he shot her a grateful grin. "I don't know. I didn't have much to go off of. All I could figure out was that it's some sort of list."
List? Shalimar faintly remembered Jesse saying something about a list the other day when he came to check on her. She had been so sick, she only half heard what he was saying.
"What about you, Emma?" Brennan turned in the pilot's seat to cast the Psionic a glance. "Have you picked up on anything from Adam?"
The redhead hesitated.
"Emma?" Brennan frowned. "Is he hiding something from us again?"
As leader, Adam was bound to have secrets, and Emma had learned to respect that, knowing it wasn't her place to share more than he intended. It was a strong sense of moral code that she instilled upon herself. But lately… She shook her head, realizing the others were staring at her. "I can tell that he's worried, a little afraid. But I'm not sure."
"Well that's normal." Shalimar closed the conversation before Brennan could say anything more. She knew he still had his issues with Adam, but didn't want to get into them now. She felt his eyes on her, and looked up, making contact.
He nodded, understanding, and let it go.
She smiled, and he turned back around.
"So, you ready Jess?" Brennan reached above him to flick a few switches; the cabin hummed with bridled energy.
"Let's do this." Jesse took a deep breath, tapping a few keys, establishing a link with Adam. "We're ready."
"Good luck." Adam's voice echoed in the team's ears as Brennan pushed forward on the throttle and the helix roared out of the mountain.
The mission had begun.
Brennan groaned in boredom, rolling his stiff neck as he looked at his watch for the twentieth time in as many minutes.
They were sitting inside a dance club.
While throngs of people danced unabashedly, unaware, all around them.
They were sitting.
Watching Jesse.
He yawned deeply.
Shalimar threw him a sideways frown as he didn't even bother to hide his boredom. She had to admit, she was getting pretty tired of just sitting here herself. According to Adam, the seller was supposed to meet Jesse at a designated table. But so far, the molecular had just sat there, nursing a single drink, trying to look casual.
As if he wasn't actually sitting there waiting for someone.
She shook her head, twirling the straw in her own drink. A strong whiff of feminine perfume caught her attention, and she lifted her eyes in time to see a waitress appear, standing ridiculously close to Brennan as she asked if he was thirsty.
As if he didn't have a half-full glass sitting right in front of him.
The woman smiled, leaning closer yet to whisper in his ear.
As if she wasn't sitting right there watching them.
Shalimar's eyes narrowed.
She felt Emma's hand land on her thigh under the table, knowing the Psionic was already sensing what was about to happen. She flashed Emma a tight smile, eyes going immediately back to watch the scene in front of her. The waitress lifted a slender hand, tucking impossibly long luxurious brunette hair behind delicate ears, her perky chest brushing against Brennan's shoulder as she reached across him for his drink, smiling back at him as she walked away, hips swaying on legs that went practically up to her chin.
And Brennan watched her tongue-tied.
The growl escaped her before she realized it.
Brennan looked at her in slight amusement. "You can sheave your claws now, Shal."
Her eyes narrowed more into tiny slits. "Excuse me?"
Emma shifted uncomfortably in her chair, lightly clearing her throat in reminder that they weren't the only two at the table.
They ignored her.
Shalimar's look only made Brennan grin more. "Do you really think I would be turned on by—by that?" He gestured in the direction of the disappearing waitress.
Only a few days into their relationship, and she had already claimed him as hers. The feeling only left her slightly irrational. She flushed slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about." Her tone dared him to say anything more.
But Brennan ignored it, leaning toward her conspiratorially. "You were jealous."
"I was not." Her eyes flared. "Why would I be jealous of some hussy flagrantly flirting with you while I'm sitting right here next to you?"
He leaned back in satisfaction at her words. "You were."
Her fingers tightened on her drink. "Was not."
"Yeah you were." He seemed to finally recognize the danger, sobering, holding her gaze with a serious expression. "Come on, you know I did nothing to encourage her, I was just as surprised as you were."
Humph. Shalimar forced a glittery smile as the waitress returned behind Brennan, stretching herself over his shoulder to set down his refilled glass. Brennan ignored her proximity, instead reaching his hand across the table to close around Shalimar's, thumb tracing sensual circles across her palm. She lifted her eyes, steadily meeting those of the waitress behind her. She bared her teeth.
The woman swallowed, backing away.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Brennan whispered with a territorial smile, thumb slipping between her fingers to rub the sensitive skin.
She quirked an eyebrow, irritation melting away at the blatant desire in his eyes. She lifted her chin slightly in hint of a challenge, trapping his thumb between her strong fingers.
"Still say you weren't jealous?" Brennan did short battle with her fingers, enjoying the moment too much to let it go. He shot her a triumphant grin when he pulled his thumb free of her hold.
"I seem to remember a certain irrational jealousy from you too lately, Brennan." Emma reminded him, sharing grins with Shalimar. "How many times did you almost come to blows with Alex?" She raised her eyebrows. "And over nothing?"
Brennan frowned petulantly at the reminder. "That was different."
"Uh-huh, sure." Laughter spilled over the table as Emma and Shalimar couldn't hold it back any longer.
"Don't you have somewhere to be, Emma?" Brennan pointedly teased her.
"Nope." She promptly flashed him an ingratiating grin, causing another round of giggles.
Shalimar nudged Brennan with her shoulder, grinning as he rolled his eyes.
"Hey guys, anything yet?" Jesse's voice interrupted them.
Emma glanced over to see him discreetly talking into his ring as he took a drink. She let her gaze continue casually around the room, before coming back around to her own table, taking a sip of her own glass. "Not a thing happening over here."
"Not even with these waitresses?" Brennan bit back his chuckle as Shalimar slapped him underneath the table.
"At least you've got some company; I'm all alone over here."
"Poor baby." Emma cajoled, grin belaying her words.
"Alright everyone, stay focused." Adam's voice brought them back to attention.
"How much longer should we wait, Adam?" Shalimar stared into her glass as she swirled her drink. The ice cubes had melted long ago. There were a lot of things she'd rather be doing than sitting here, like picking up those new shoes she had admired in the store window a few weeks ago when she had been out with Brennan. Back before life had gotten crazier than usual. Back before she was stuck sitting here bored out of her mind. She made little effort to stifle a yawn.
"Let's give it a little more time." Adam's voice bore little sympathy, cutting off without any more instruction.
"Great." Brennan sighed, looking around the room with increasing boredom. After two hours of waiting, it was unlikely anything was going to happen. The natural adrenaline had long ago worn off, leaving him antsy. He straightened slightly as something caught his eye.
"You two be good," Emma pushed up from the table with a final grin. "I'm going to take a walk around, see if I can sense anything."
Shalimar watched her leave, glancing over at the bored molecular, before taking another sip of her drink. She almost spit it out in surprise when she suddenly felt Brennan's hand brush against her knee, squeezing lightly. She looked over at him, and felt a sudden flush at the look in his eyes.
His lips curved with a lazy smile, eyes beginning a slow perusal down her body, starting at the delicate collarbones peeking out of the neckline of her fitted shirt, unbuttoned far lower than he was used to seeing on her. His gaze followed the trail of buttons to soft faded jeans that cupped every curve. She flushed even more, and his eyes took on a wicked gleam as they dropped to her open-toed sandals before finally returning his gaze to hers. Her eyebrows quirked in challenge as he smirked, their gazes locking. He leaned closer until there were mere inches between them, and she deliberately closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of him. Her heart beat began to pick up, and she found herself watching him, only him, drowning in the heat of his eyes until only the sound of loud pulsating music surrounded them, closing them off.
And she forgot about Jesse waiting at the nearby table.
Brennan held out his hand, leading her to the dance floor, and she willingly followed. The music was loud, fast, almost a tribal beat, and Brennan watched Shalimar dance, the tight white shirt showing every curve of her body as she moved. The way she moved held him entranced. She moved closer, dancing against him and around him. He responded, pulling her closer as her arms locked around his neck, settling into the music until they were staring at one another, intensity growing, moving closer and closer until there were scant inches between them. Her eyes fluttered shut in anticipation of his kiss, shivering as she lifted her lips.
Shalimar.
Something, somewhere, in the far reaches of her mind, made her stop. She froze, blinking, and the music seemed to suddenly wrap itself around her more fully. No longer in welcome, but in screams of outrage, demanding to be heard. Hands wrapped around her in a smoky promise, and she gasped, opening her eyes to suddenly find herself in the arms of a stranger.
Shalimar.
She stared, eyes wide, unable to move, in a world of her own even in a crowded room.
Must you dance alone?
The eyes held her, the hunger lurking within scaring her, holding her hostage.
Shock.
Fear.
Facing the darkness on her own.
She shivered; time suspended in the strobing lights of the dance floor. "Who are you?" She finally managed to speak.
No, now is not the time for questions. Now, now we dance…then we hunt. The prey is near. Do you feel it, Shalimar? I know you feel it.
Hunt…? She resisted, the first few steps awkward, without understanding as she was whirled around, reflections of a shadow moving in the corner of her eye. Unable to stop, unable to resist, unconsciously, she turned her face, seeking it out, struggling to know. A turn, a reach. Something flashed. She lifted her head.
The urge. The thrill. Find the prey, Shalimar, feel it.
The words whispered in her ear, and she jerked back, meeting violet eyes grinning in wild delight as the music grew faster, more demanding, and she was forced to pick up the speed. Amber eyes and violet eyes flashed in feral understanding as she was pulled along in the wake. There was something else to the music, something that lurked in the shadows of the notes and tones. Something else that whispered to her, taunted her as she was whirled around and around. Breathless, dizzy, she was abruptly stopped, eyes locking on a figure across the room.
Prey.
She saw Jesse.
Reflex denial roared into being, and she struggled. Violet eyes smiled violently with satisfaction, and she saw it was what the stranger had been waiting for. A strangled sob escaped her lips as she looked back over at the molecular, sitting bored, fingering his drink.
Unaware of the dangers hovering in the shadows behind him.
With a triumphant laugh, white teeth flashed in the darkness. Music roared, pounding in her ear drums, and then abruptly, she was released from the hold of the dance. For a split second, Shalimar stumbled, and time froze once more as rhythm faltered.
And then Brennan's hands were suddenly on her, his warm eyes looking down in concern.
Knowledge exploded.
No. She almost folded in upon herself as the last strains of music faded into silence. Her panting breaths were harsh with emotion, and when she finally raised her head, she was left realizing her mistake.
The others barely knew what happened.
Brennan thought she was tired, leading her trembling body back to the table.
But she understood.
Distraction.
Carelessness.
In the dim light, she had watched him.
While he watched Jesse.
And someone else watched them all.
It was a tired group that stumbled back into Sanctuary, yawning and confused. Adam's quiet instruction that they would talk in the morning lingered on her mind even as she numbly undressed for bed. Night fell, and Sanctuary became quiet and dark.
It was hours later, and still she lay awake when she finally slipped out from under Brennan's heavy arm, backing away from the bed, legs abruptly hit the edge of a chair. She sank into it, shivering as she drew her legs up to her chest. Hours more passed and still she sat, huddled on the chair, not moving, not sleeping, eyes burning across the room in the darkness.
And she watched him.