present day

Brennan joined Jesse on the couch and sat down next to him. he would either confront Shalimar when she came back...or suggest an idea to Adam.

It was 9am in the morning and Shalimar didn't come back till 12. She seemed better, but the slight jitter, and fidgeting signalled some thing else.

Brennan saw her walking to the dojo and decided it best if he has a talk with Adam first, just leave her alone for a bit. He asked Jesse to come with him to the lab, to help him convince Adam his idea was good. He'd already explained to Jesse his idea and Jesse had agreed with him.

They waited till Shalimar was fully into her training with the simulations before sneaking past and going to the lab. They didn't want her to do a runner again.

" Hey Adam...can we talk".

Adam was leaning over another piece of work, and when Brennan and Jess, came in, he smiled. "Of course...what's on your minds".

Brennan folded his arms trying to make the words in his head before he said them. He looked at Jess, who nudged him on to continue. "well...we think, it'll be best for what Shal's going through if..."

Jesse nudged him again, " If...we go some where were she feel's more...relaxed. you know...more at ease".

They both waited for Adam to talk, but he remained silent, still looked down on a piece of paper he was reading. Before Brennan or Jess could ask him if he was listening, his head popped up to them, his face smiling. " Of course...just what I had in mind". He walked round to the computer and started to type some thing out. It lasted only a few seconds before he turned back to the two-team members.

" I've been looking for places that she can feel more at ease, and I believe, I may have found it." he pulled up and image of a 3 story house...the house, surrounded by tree's and forest.

" This house, belongs to a friend of mine. When I told him about Shalimar...he suggested this place would be the best therapy for her to relax".

Brennan huffed with surprise, " Wow Adam..." Jesse nodded, " Ye...that place is huge. So is Shal just going or is it all of us". Adam smiled, " We're all going. The fresh air will do you good and the best part is Shalimar will feel better. Call it a vacation if you like. We'll all be leaving tonight if you like...so go and get some stuff ready".

"How long are we going for?". Adam smiled again at Brennan, " About a week...but if Shal still isn't better, it may be two. Just pack your stuff for a week away and if a week turns into two, then we can come back and get some things".

Jesse smiled, " alright Adam. But...who's gonna tell Shal..." The room suddenly went silent, and in that silence, both Adam and Jesse looked at Brennan.

" What!...No way...no...she's already in a bad mood. I'll probably have a few broken ribs after it...Adam...no". Brennan's voice was slightly panicked now. They'd dropped it on him.

"Yes Brennan. you can tell her. She's more open with you...besides the worst that could happen is she says no. She bit my head off, she wont do the same to you". Jesse was smirking now.

" What make's you think that?"

Again the room fell silent...but Adam and Jesse knew what was going through their minds. Brennan looked at the both of them, and both turned to look at some thing else, feeling awkward to explain it to him.

Finally Adam and Jesse pushed Brennan out the lab. Jesse then went to get some stuff ready and Adam started to make arrangements.
Brennan found Shal just finishing up on her work out, and when she saw him she froze, not really knowing whether to run or stay. She tried to seem she wasn't affected by his presence...but her fidgeting had returned.

He smiled, already nervous, " Hey, Shal". She smiled slightly, but some thing else effected it. She took a weary step down the stairs leading to the floor, testing how far she could get before some thing triggered inside of her.

"Shal...the others and me were thinking, you know, if you want to...to go on a little vacation".

Her eyes shot to his and he felt his nerve going. Already he was fighting the shakiness that had arrived when her eyes landed on him. some thing about those eyes, that made him weak in the knees and almost hypnotise him into doing any thing.

She cleared her throat, head bowed slightly, " Where we going?" Brennan felt his connection with her tug as she stayed put. " Jess and me asked Adam and he came up with the idea of the countryside". She looked directly at him and the weak feeling came over him again.

"...no thanks you guys go I'll stay here", she started to walk away quickly and Brennan felt his chances to make her go were leaving with her. He ran after her, " Shal...wait. let me just tell you ok".

She stopped, " What!" she was gritting her teeth, but he hadn't noticed due to her back being towards him.
" We all want to go, and we all especially want you to go as well. It wouldn't be a holiday if your not there".

He saw her back tense though and she turned to him, voice weak, "Brennan...I don't know if I can". He walked up to her and hugger her, her voice had nearly broke. "we'll be there to help Shal...just like you guys were there for me when I started mutating". She gripped tight onto him, letting a few tears fall. But they weren't of pain, no, they were of frustration. She was frustrated because she had all these instincts all telling her what to do and then she had the rational side of her mind that told her nearly all these things would destroy her connection to all her team-mates. She didn't want to lose them, but she was getting tired of fighting off the feral. it was apart of her and on some level, the things it wanted to do...so did she.

"so...are you gonna come. Or am I gonna have to set up camp in sanctuary with ya".

She laughed and started to wipe away her tears. her feral side felt calm and she felt in control when he was close to her. she stepped back and smiled up at him, "ye...I'll go. when is it. Also you and Jess have to cook me, Emma and Adam the best dinner every". Brennan smiled down at her, glad she was partly back, "Deal, Adam said we leave tonight so get your stuff... and just to let you know...I'm a terrible cook". Shal laughed again and slapped him lightly on the chest before leaving to get packed.

Brennan watched her go and felt the weight of nervousness lift off his shoulders, then ran up the stairs to his room to pack some bags.

Jesse had watched from the crack in his door way and started to smile to him self, before closing his door. Those two so dig it for each other. Now, what to get to impress Emma.

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Tunder28