For disclaimers, please see Chapter 1.
Also, please note that the gauge on the slash meter rises a little in this chapter. I need to start earning the M rating I gave this.

"I'm sorry, Adam. I won't be manipulated by you any longer."

Jesse looked down at Adam's shoes, and Adam followed his gaze. Red tendrils spread across the scientist's sneakers. Adam tried to move and couldn't. His now heavy, dense shoes kept him rooted in place.

Adam reached into his pocket and a memory surfaced lightning quick in Jesse's mind. He remembered a small device, a device that triggered a special sub-dermal governor implanted in his neck - a device that would shut down his powers.

As Adam removed the small, keychain-sized device from his pocket, Jesse willed its molecules to disperse, and the device winked out of existence. "Not this time, Adam."

Jesse massed Cynthia's shoes as well, and now both their adversaries could not move. However, Jesse had no clue how to stop Cynthia's blasts.

"Shalimar, pick up Brennan and carry him out of here."

"No!" Brennan replied. "I can do it myself. And I'm in charge." Brennan almost sat up, but fell back down, panting from the effort.

"Do it, Shal." Shalimar moved over to pick him up, but with the electricity shooting across Brennan's body, she didn't have a chance, even setting aside the issue of her extended claws.

"I can't!"

Jesse kept his eyes on Adam and Cynthia, walking backwards to the bed. He stepped around it, and picked Brennan up, despite his protest. He felt a flicker as he picked Brennan up, but he calmed the electricity automatically, slowing the molecules that transmitted the charge, similar to freezing them. Brennan sighed and sagged in his arms.

"Everybody, out!" Jesse ordered. He and Shalimar moved to the door, and Emma followed, struggling to keep the barrier in place. Jesse stopped on the way and whispered into Emma's ear. "I know you're barely hanging on, but I need one more thing. When I say 'password' to Adam, I need you to scan him and remember whatever he's thinking."

Emma nodded, just barely.

"Adam, I suggest you and your friend leave Sanctuary. This is our home now, and you aren't welcome here at the moment. And before you think about trying to turn the security system against us, I already cracked your password."

Adam's eyes widened, and Emma put her last reserves of strength into play, reading his thoughts.

Jesse glanced at Emma, and seeing her nod, he exited the lab, Shalimar covering him just in case. Emma followed, and just barely outside the door she fell to the floor, drained.

"Shal, get Emma and follow me."

Psychic blasts began shooting through the wall randomly, and Shalimar could hear Adam shouting at them. Shal reached to pick up Emma, and as she did so, she noticed that her new claws had disappeared. She lifted Emma up without worry of hurting her, and hurried after Jesse.

Jesse phased the wall in front of them, and he and Shal ran into the room, carrying Brennan and Emma. He eased Brennan down onto the floor and then sat at one of the terminals and began typing. He didn't notice that Brennan immediately tensed up, and small flickers of electricity began scattering across his fingers.

"Shal, you've got to wake Emma up. I need those passwords."

Shal shook Emma gently, trying to prod her back to consciousness.

"Now, Shal. I need them now. I'm not sure how long my trick with the shoes will hold. If Adam gets in before us, we're screwed. All of Sanctuary will turn against us."

Shalimar murmured "I'm sorry" to Emma, and then slapped her across the face. Emma's eyes flashed open. "I'm sorry, but Jesse needs the password." Emma's eyes swam into focus. "The password, Emma, the password."

Emma replied groggily, "There are two passwords, not one. Adam wondered which one you had cracked. They are patsy!13 and polynucleotide47b." Emma spelled each one. "Patsy was the name of Adam's dog when he was little," Emma slurred, as she drifted back to unconsciousness.

"That would be touching if he wasn't trying to mess with our own memories," Shal commented.

"I'm in," Jesse said. "and I'm changing both passwords." After a pause, he added, "Done." A few more clicks on the keyboard and an image of the lab appeared. Adam and Cynthia were still rooted to the ground.

"Adam," he said into the computer.

Adam worked at the laces on his shoes, trying to lift them even slightly to untie them. If he could just slip his feet out, he could get to a computer. Behind him, Cynthia waited patiently, having already said "I told you so" a few times.

"Adam," the lab speakers hissed.

Adam stood up and turned his head to face the camera he knew focused on him. "Jesse, if you'll just listen to me."

"Listen? After you attacked us? I don't think so. I'm redirecting Sanctuary's defenses now, and you and your friend Cynthia will both be considered intruders."

"You couldn't, you'd need both…" and Adam trailed off, realizing he'd been tricked earlier. Jesse hadn't cracked either of his passwords, but Emma had been able to read them off of him. "Jesse, you can't do this. Just let me explain."

"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" the claxon warned, indicating Jesse had completed his work. "Lethal defenses will activate in 60 seconds."

"Jesse!" Adam screamed. Suddenly his feet gave way, as did Cynthia's, their shoes back to normal density. "Cynthia, run!"

They ran for the exit as the computer counted down the seconds.

"Lethal defenses, Jesse?"

"Not really, Shal. But I figured Adam could use some extra persuasion to leave. The defense system never really activated."

Shalimar breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I know Adam has done some screwed up things to you and Emma," and remembering Adam knocking Brennan out she added, "and Brennan. But I still can't help but think something isn't right. Adam isn't a bad guy."

"I know," Jesse agreed, running his hand through his hair. "I know."

"Have they left yet?"

"Yeah, I just saw them leave. They took Cynthia's car and are headed away from Sanctuary."

"So what do we do now? Do we have to stay in here?" Shalimar looked around the room and rubbed her hands together. "It's freezing in here."

"No, I just wanted a safe place for us, safe from Cynthia's blasts, while I worked on the computer. If Emma hadn't gotten the right passwords, this would have been the only safe spot in Sanctuary for us."

Brennan groaned, drawing their attention. Electricity traveled up his arms again. "Jesse, we have to help him. How do we do that without Adam?" Shal asked.

"For now, I can help him," Jesse answered, walking over to Brennan and touching his arm. The electricity arced over to Jesse's hand.

"How, Jesse? How are you doing that? That should at least shock you, if not more."

"I wish I knew, Shal. Maybe Adam's files will shed some light. But first, let's get Emma and Brennan to their rooms." He picked up Brennan and then glanced at the wall and it disappeared.

"I'm not sure what to make of your new powers, little brother."

"Me? What about you? At least I don't have peek-a-boo nipples."

"Oh, if I wasn't holding Emma right now, you'd pay for that… and believe me, you will pay later."

"Bring it on, Mommy Kitty," he volleyed, and ducked out the opening.

Outside, he looked around Sanctuary. He sobered as he realized it hadn't been a sanctuary at all, right now, it seemed to have been more of a house of horrors.

I guess that whole laughing in the face of danger thing is a crock, he thought of their humor a moment ago. It's not that you laugh at danger, you laugh so that you don't lose it entirely.

Shalimar looked somber as well as she stepped out into Sanctuary, a Sanctuary without Adam. She didn't say anything, just looked at him, and then carried Emma to her room.

Jesse reformed the wall after she left, somehow pulling it back out of the nothingness into which it had disappeared.

"So, what now, Adam?"

"Just give me a moment to think. I need to figure out what to do."

Cynthia shook her head at him. "I'll tell you what you are going to do, Adam. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You are going to let this play out. It's been too long, and it never should have happened in the first place."

"But he's going to hurt, Cynthia. And the risks, the danger…" he broke off, recalling that Cynthia knew the dangers just as well as he did, if not better.

"You will leave that boy alone, Adam. Do you hear me? You will leave that boy alone."

"But…"

"Don't make me tell you again."

Jesse pushed open the door to Brennan's room and flicked on the light. He carried Brennan across the room and gently placed him on the bed. He stepped away and crossed the room to turn out the light.

"Jesse?" Brennan mumbled.

"Yeah, Brennan?"

"Don't leave, please. It hurts." Jesse walked back over to the bed and looked at Brennan's face.

"I can get you some pain killers from the lab. They'll help while you heal."

"It's not that, it's this," Brennan said, lifting his fingers above his chest. A spark of electricity jumped from one finger to another. "It doesn't hurt when you…" he broke off.

Jesse finished his sentence for him. "When I touch you."

Brennan nodded with effort, as if the admission pained him. "Please," he begged softly. "It's getting worse."

Jesse nodded. "I just need a minute." He walked away from the bed and sat down at Brennan's computer. He double checked the security system, ensuring it was on and only accepted four people as residents now. It only took him moments, but he could already hear soft groans coming from the bed. He hit the light and then ducked into Brennan's bathroom quickly, emptying his bladder. The last thing I need tonight is a piss-hardon, he thought, I'm going to have trouble controlling it as it is.

He washed his hands, and then climbed into Brennan's bed, kicking off his shoes and pulling the light coverlet over them. He could see Brennan's eyes in the faint light from the door, and seeing the panic there, he knew Brennan was anything but comfortable with the situation. Jesse opted for the manliest thing he could think of, reaching his hand out and resting it on Brennan's shoulder.

Brennan flinched at the touch initially, but then felt the soothing drain and sighed, and began to relax. "Thanks," he said in the darkness.

"Anytime, bro," Jesse replied, answering with familiar words, but he felt anything but brotherly towards Brennan at the moment.

They stayed like that until they both fell asleep.

A gentle knock roused Jesse the next morning. "Jess, are you in there?"

Jesse opened his eyes, and looked around, not used to waking up in another's bed. "Yeah," he said as lightly as he could, "but Brennan's still sleeping."

"Then meet us downstairs, okay?"

"Sure."

Jesse took better stock of his surroundings. He lay spooned against Brennan's back, his arm wrapped around the taller man. Brennan held onto his arm tightly, like a man grasping a lifeline. Jesse also took notice of the fact that he had his erection pressed up against Brennan's ass.

Jesse pulled his hips back, trying to break contact before Brennan woke up. He slipped his arm out of Brennan's clasp and slid himself off the bed. He reached down and grabbed his shoes, then stepped towards the door.

"Jesse?"

Before he answered, Jesse looked down and realized his shirt had slipped halfway out of his pants. He quickly pulled it all the way out and let it fall down, hiding his erection. "Yeah, Bren?"

"Where are you going?"

"The girls need me downstairs."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"Are you sure? Why don't you stay up here?"

"It's coming back already, I can feel the ants already, just since you got out of bed."

"Ants?"

"The electricity, whatever. It's getting stronger. I need you, Jess. Please, touch me."

Jesse's eyes almost fluttered closed at the request. Brennan had said that to him in nighttime fantasies before, but to hear the real thing – it was almost too much. He knew he couldn't crawl back into bed with Brennan now; Brennan would have to come with him.

"Okay, let's go. Do you think you can walk?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Jesse returned to the bed, and reached out to take Brennan's hand. He hadn't realized the tremble that shook Brennan until his touch stopped it. Brennan breathed a sigh of relief, like an addict who had just taken a hit. He slid over to the side of the bed and with Jesse holding his hand, he tried to stand up and almost fell in the process. Jesse reached out with his other hand and grabbed him around the waist, steadying him.

"Brennan, this isn't a good idea."

"I'll be fine. I just need to get my legs back under me."

"Okay," Jesse gave in. "Let's go."

"Um, Jess… before we go, I need to go to the bathroom."

Jesse's heart stopped beating. "Um, what?"

"Can you walk me over to the bathroom? I need to piss first."

His heart now clamored as he walked Brennan to the bathroom, taking off like a rocket from its dead stop. He positioned Brennan in front of the toilet and steadied him, trying to look away, yet really wanting to look.

He found that Brennan's ego provided the solution. Everywhere that Jesse looked, mirrors faced back at him. He could see Brennan's cock in most of them. He swallowed thickly, and then closed his eyes – he couldn't handle this much temptation.

"You need to go?" Brennan asked, shaking the last drops out.

Jesse's erection throbbed in his jeans. Sure, Brennan. I'll pull my hard cock out in front of you and stand there unable to pee because I'm too hard. Yeah, that won't freak you out at all.

"Nah, I'm fine," he forced himself to say as Brennan tucked himself back in.

"Okay, I'm ready."

Jesse looked at him. "Ready to wash your hands, I hope."

"Ummm, yeah, of course," Brennan answered circumspectly.

Jesse rolled his eyes. "I'm so not shaking hands with you anymore."

"It's not a big deal, Jess. It's not like I piss on my hands or anything. Besides, when was the last time we shook hands?"

"Just wash your hands, Brennan."

Author's Notes:

Okay, so I know you are asking yourself why I brought up the whole peeing and hand washing thing. Well, it helps further the story a little, believe it or not, but more importantly, I caught one my co-workers not washing his hands the other day, and I called him on it. The "it's not like I piss on my hands or anything" response was what I got back. Consider this my public service announcement on the subject. Wash your fucking hands, alright?

Also, I've already written the next two chapters. Hmmm, I wonder what it'll take to make me post them. I supposed I could be persuaded...with Pringles, of course!

Should I mention that one of those two chapters involves a shower scene? And Brennan? And Jesse? A few Pringles are worth that, right? And you wondered why I brought up the bathroom scene now...sheesh.