"Thanks, but I think getting Brennan and Jesse back to Sanctuary is a better idea," Adam said, eying the readings nervously and adjusting the oxygen mask over Jesse's face. The box over the molecular's head beeped and traced a green line along a very old looking heart monitor, and Adam bumped into a pole dangling sterile intravenous fluids, unable to move in the crowded space of the clinic/lab and even more so with all the people crammed into the small room. Jesse coughed and wheezed from stretcher number one, and Emma held a cool glass to his lips to ease away the cough, worrying over the pale color in his face. Adam tucked a stethoscope back into his pocket and frowned. "You don't really have enough equipment here, Martha. I don't know how you've managed before this. I've already used up two thirds of your supply of antibiotics and we've been here all of three days. And let's face it, the scanning equipment you use won't help with non-ferals." He tossed a glance over his shoulder at the fifth mutant in the clinic. "You're not going to try to keep me here, are you, lieutenant? Excuse me—colonel."

The newly minted colonel smiled broadly, several rows of shark teeth gleaming in the sunlight. "Not as long as you promise to send the formula for that skin ointment to Dr. Morrison. I've got a wife at home who's eagerly planning to redecorate the officer's quarters as soon as she gets here. And the officer's club. And whatever else she can get her hands on. And—thanks. For everything." Vanderworthy waved at the epaulets that had been hastily sewn onto his jacket.

"What's the use in having powerful friends if you can't call in a favor now and again?" Adam peeled back Brennan's eyelid; the elemental groaned, all self-control stolen by the powerful opiates that took away his pain. Shalimar stroked his forehead with relief now that the man's fever was down. It would be back, she knew, but by then they'd be home in Sanctuary where proper treatment would be available. Shalimar didn't want to remember that horrible trip down the mountain, Brennan slung between the brawny shoulders of two soldiers, dripping blood down his pants and struggling to stay conscious. Walking was not going to be in the man's future for the next several days. Brennan turned unconsciously at her touch, seeking comfort in her hands.

Adam sympathized with Shalimar; he'd had more than a few bad moments himself watching the shark mutants man-handle Jesse's limp form onto the boat. It had taken only seconds to discern that the molecular's heart was still beating—although slowly—and that air was still moving in and out of water-logged lungs. Pneumonia, however, was a very real concern as was hypothermia, and he really didn't like the way that the oxygen was rasping through a sore trachea. Emma and Shalimar can pilot the Helix back, he decided. Me, I'm going to keep a few tubes within arm's reach in case someone decides to stop breathing. Tubes for both my patients. He grabbed another blanket, handing it to Emma with mute instructions to tuck it around the patient.

"I can't think of a better man to have in charge of this base," Adam continued, adding something to Jesse's intravenous line. "Actually, I can't think of any man who could run this place. You said they're sending out more troops? More volunteers?"

"Got the room," Vanderworthy said. "My men—my water squadron," he amended, "has decided that an underwater barracks is more to their liking." Wish I could join 'em, went unsaid. "And with Dr. Morrison here to continue research as well as provide for our more, ah, basic needs," he coughed, "I should be able to turn this place around. The Powers That Be are already sending memos about upcoming missions that we should be able to make a difference in."

Morrison smiled sheepishly. "I can't believe I didn't see that answer to the skin problem," she muttered, a blush stealing over her face. "You have my apologies, colonel." For everything, was her unspoken part of the discussion.

"Water under the bridge," Colonel Vanderworthy said graciously, "and back in the ocean where it belongs. I wish you'd confided in me, doctor," he added. "I needed some facts to work with. If I'd known that the black market peoplewere forcing you to cooperate, I could have resolved this particular problem a long time ago. It might not have come to this, even though it seems to have worked out. Assaulting us, blackmailing you…"

"We're lucky that you acted when you did, Dr. Morrison," Shalimar put in. "Your distracting of that guard allowed the soldiers to shoot. Without that, I never would have been able to rescue you and Brennan." She slid the hair back off Brennan's forehead, noting with dismay how hot the man's skin still was. Damn shark mutant Danzig. Damn crazy shark mutant Danzig. It had been established that Danzig was the sniper, once they knew what to look for. Danzig hadn't been seen since terrorizing Jesse in the middle of the ocean but Shalimar had intercepted several looks between Warren and Blue. And the electric fence was down. Shark mutants were free to go where ever they pleased. Anywhere in the ocean. More than one way to go AWOL. Another thought occurred to her: "Blackmail? Over what?"

Morrison colored. "That was a long time ago."

"Martha, it's nothing to be ashamed of," Adam told her. "You did what you had to do."

"That's easy for you to say, Adam. You were always the brightest of us all. Everyone fell over themselves offering you scholarships and grants."

Emma couldn't stand the suspense. "What did you do, Dr. Morrison?"

The geneticist's blush grew hotter.

The side of Adam's mouth quirked upward. "It's really not that bad, Martha." He turned to Emma. "She danced in the local bar. She was really good at it, too. A couple of us sneaked in one night to watch."

"Adam!" Morrison wailed. "Do you know what this will do to my reputation?"

"Martha, your reputation is that of a highly regarded researcher. Your dancing days were more than two decades ago."

"But this is the military!" Morrison was not appeased. "You know how stodgy they can be."

"Don't worry, Dr. Morrison. Your secret is safe with me." Colonel Vanderworthy's eyes gleamed. "In fact, I think that a highly abbreviated report of this whole affair is the only thing that will be committed to paper." He winked. "There won't be enough room for extraneous details, doctor. That good enough?"

She sighed in relief. "Good enough to produce a whole barrel of skin ointment, colonel."

"Good. And now that we've got that settled—Sergeant Tyler?" Vanderworthy called. Someone else had benefited from this affair. The blue shark mutant straightened up after a beat, still not used to his new rank. "Detail some men for the stretchers. Dr. Kane's transportation is here and waiting, and we'll need some muscle to tote these people to the air strip."

"Yes, sir." Blue grinned. He flicked a glance over the two mutants. "Suspect getting some grunts impervious to electricity for Mulwray would be a good idea, sir."

"Oh, yeah."

"I can walk," Jesse grumbled through his oxygen mask. He struggled to sit up.

Emma knocked him flat with a push of a single finger. "Lie there and take it, Jesse."

But the action had jarred loose another spate of coughing. Emma held him securely, offering him soothing water, until the coughing—and the gasping—stopped. Jesse groaned, closing his eyes in surrender.

"Or not."