Shady slept for almost twelve hours. When she did finally come to, she recognized one body left in the room. Toll was stretched out on the other bed, head thrown back; snoring so loudly Shady was sure she saw the walls shake. She got out of bed, dressed and then headed downstairs to the dining the room the team had been assigned.

When she entered, the only people Boots found were Gunnar and Briana. Shady wasn't surprised to find a gun aimed at her so she quickly showed her empty hands. The big Swede smiled and while holstering his weapon he had the nerve to tease her, "Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to wake up."

She laughed mirthlessly, flipped him off and filled her plate. Shady heard the big man laugh. She dropped down at one of the empty tables and began eating. It wasn't long until she was joined. "I understand I have you to thank for these?" Briana motioned at the clothes she wore.

Boots looked up, "Yeah. Guess they fit okay?" Shady leaned back to make better eye contact.

"They fit great. Thanks." The scientist extended her hand, "Briana Fuller."

"Shady Powell." She returned the handshake, "My friends call me Boots."

They talked a few minutes longer until the door opened again. Boots and Gunnar both turned, guns aimed at their new intruder. Lee Christmas mirrored Shady's earlier actions, holding his hands up and open. The two returned to their meals. Both times, when weapons were drawn, Briana never flinched. She didn't even seem surprised but instead Fuller seemed expectant; as if she anticipated that to be the normal course of action. It didn't go unnoticed.

Christmas instructed Gunnar to escort their charge back to the room where Barney would take over the protective detail. Then Jensen would roust Toll to take their next watch, allowing the big guy to get some well-earned rest. Lee quickly prepared his own breakfast and then dropped down next to Boots.

"Do I get to say I told you so?" She pointed towards his eye that showed signs of bruising.

"No," was the short answer.

Shady smiled and cocked a brow but let the subject die. Instead, she asked, "So where are the others?"

Around a mouthful of eggs, he answered, "Toll and Galgo are walking a picket, trying to be as obscure as possible. Doc and Hale are in the lobby and business center. We thought it would seem questionable if a group of professionals weren't doing the things normal businessmen would do."

Shady nodded, "And what about me?"

"What about you?"

She huffed, "What should I do?"

He shook his head, "Nothing for right now." Shady started to argue but Lee stopped her, "There's nothing to do, Boots. It's covered. Enjoy it."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she slumped in the chair. "What about you?"

He smiled, "I'll be relieving Barney in a few hours."

She nodded then changed the subject, asking, "So, Briana...Do you notice anything, well, odd about her?"

Lee put his fork down next to his plate and leaned back in his chair, "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it but she seems," Shady paused looking for the right word, "off."

"Shady, she was just rescued from a hostage situation where she was obviously tortured."

Powell shook her head, "I know that. But, there's just something wrong."

"In what way," Lee asked.

"She's too calm. She related her capture with little to no emotion; like delivering a status report to a superior. Then when Gunnar, and later, both of us, drew our weapons, it didn't faze her."

Lee scoffed, "Boots, you, of all people, know that everyone deals with stress differently. I'm sure it's nothing."

"Christmas, I don't think it's stress." She paused then rushed on, "I think she might be...look, is it possible she's the security attaché?"

He caressed her arm, "I'm not dismissing you out of hand, Shady. But, I rescued her. She was genuinely scared for her life."

"I'm not saying that she wasn't scared…"

He stopped her, "Boots, there's nothing there. I think she's just dealing with what's happened the best way she knows how."

Shady stood up, "Fine. If that's the case then she will eventually crash."

Lee joined her, "And we'll be ready when that happens, too." He pulled her against him, keeping her from saying anything else by kissing her quiet. "Stop worrying, Boots. Enjoy the downtime. Go read your book." He gave her another hug and kiss, then a playful shove to get her going.

Shady didn't argue. She knew Christmas was wrong. It would just take time to prove it.

Thirty-six hours later and Shady was going nuts. Throughout the past almost two days, Powell had nothing to do. The guys, on the other hand, had rotated shifts of guard duty, security detail and working to maintain their businessman charade.

When Shady confronted Barney about her inactivity, like Lee had done earlier, he placated her. "Don't worry about it Boots," he said. "We're enough without you. Right now." He patted her shoulder, "Enjoy it while you can."

Frustrated beyond belief, there was only one thing left for her to do. Shady found the bar, bought a bottle of rum and started drinking.

This was where Hale found her two hours later. He walked up next to the table, growling, "Just how drunk are you?" He pointed towards the bottle that Shady had obviously nursed past the neck and shoulders.

Shady couldn't help but be startled. She had assumed everyone was occupied and she would have the rest of the evening to sleep it off. But the behemoth was still waiting on an answer. She looked up, "Not completely."

Caesar shook his head, "You better be more sober than drunk because Barney wants you in the room with Briana."

She stood up, glaring at the big man, "I can handle myself." Shady grabbed her bag and before Hale could say anything, grabbed the bottle from his hand, resealed it and stuffed it in her backpack. "Let's go."

Barney opened the door to the two team members. He gave Shady a narrowed stare and then looked up to Hale who only shrugged. Boots took charge, "And you need me why?"

Lee walked over to the group, "Briana is in the bathroom and won't come out. She's been in there at least two hours. I've knocked a couple of times and she's responded. I've heard her refill the bathwater at least once."

Boots sighed. "Alright, both of you get out." Ross started to argue but Shady turned on him, "You called me up here because you thought I could help. Now, let me help. Leave and don't come back until breakfast." She stepped aside waiting for Lee to pass.

Christmas gave her a quick nod and grabbed his bag. Barney gave her one more hard glare then left the women alone. Shady was right about one thing. He'd called her up because he thought she would be able to communicate with Fuller. He had to trust her.

Once the door closed, Shady grabbed the bottle from her bag and poured a glass, setting it on the nearby dresser. She then went to the bathroom door and knocked, "Briana?" When she got no response, Boots continued, "The guys want me to take a look at your injuries before you get completely dressed. C'mon on out, okay?"

Briana jumped at the knock. Pulled once more from her reveries, she had to admit, she was surprised to hear the woman's voice and not the soft British lilt of Lee Christmas. Briana cleared her throat, answering, "Yeah, Shady. I'm just finishing up. I'll be right out."

Boots stepped back from the door and pulled the straight back chair close to the bed. She didn't wait long for the other woman to exit the bathroom. Briana was wearing loose fitting yoga pants and a sports bra, leaving the rest of her shoulder, back and arms exposed. Before she sat down, Fuller saw the filled glass. Looking from it back to Shady, the scientist asked, "Is that for me?"

Boots nodded.

"Oh my god," Fuller picked up the glass and took a long, soothing sip. "You are my hero." She drained it, putting the glass back down.

Shady reached behind her and grabbed the bottle, offering it to Briana. The woman took it gratefully, refilling her glass. She looked back at Boots, "It's a shame to drink alone."

Boots nodded and watched as Briana filled a second glass. She handed it to Shady as she sat in the straight back chair. Powell took a sip then put it on the nearby table. She then began a circumspect review of the scientist's wounds.

Shady grabbed the t-shirt off the bed and handed it to Briana. "Your injuries are healing up nicely."

"Yeah."

Powell smiled, "You know, Briana, you won't always look like you do now." Fuller looked up, guilt and surprise etched on her face. Knowing she was on the right track, Shady continued, "The bruises will fade. The swelling with go away and the cuts will heal."

"Leaving scars," Fuller said bitterly.

"We all have scars. Some we can see and some we can't."

Briana slammed the glass on the table, standing abruptly. "Excuse me, Shady, if I'm not comforted by your platitudes. Unless you've been captured, beaten and tortured for information, you have no idea what I've been through…what I'm feeling."

She turned her back on the female Expendable, shrugged the shirt over her head, snatched up the glass and tossed down the contents. Shady sighed and ripped off her own shirt. She called Briana's name. The woman turned back with a curt, "What?"

Fuller's eyes widened. She reached out for Shady's right arm, tracing the scar up to her elbow. She then saw the healed bullet wounds. Boots answered her questioning gaze, "It happened when I worked for NCIS. I was captured, beaten and tortured for information." The former agent recited Briana's words verbatim.

Briana sank back down in the chair. Shady returned her shirt, grabbing up her own glass and swallowing down the amber liquid that was the spiced rum. Fuller shook her head, "I didn't know."

"We've all been there. Every man in this unit has scars. But we learn how to deal with them. And, like I said, some you can see. Some you can't." Shady refilled her glass then Briana's. "Besides, the guys say chicks dig scars."

Fuller ducked her head and chuckled, "That's good to know. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I actually prefer the opposite sex."

Shady dropped down on the bed, laughing as well. "Oh, then, trust me. They make great conversation starters with guys."

Briana took another drink. Looking over at the bottle, she asked, "So, were you saving that for a special occasion?"

Boots grinned, "Nope. I was planning on finishing it tonight."

Fuller returned the smile, "Want some help?"