Rogue Alliance

FIFTY-SIX



Brennan decided make a detour past the hospital. He wanted to see Shyla before he left town. It bothered him to know that he was deliberately keeping information from her, evading the truth of where he was really going, but it was in her best interest to leave her in the dark. Besides, it was the last job he intended to ever do for Victor. They’d go down to LA, secure this last shipment, and then he’d wipe his hands of it. All of it.

He hadn’t had the conversation with Victor yet, but he knew that he could sense it, see it in his eyes, ever since he’d returned from the visit with his mother. How could he not? If he was disgruntled about it, he wasn’t overtly showing it. Yeah, he could tell it bothered him a bit, but they weren’t addressing or discussing it, yet. That was fine with him.

Fatigue and guilt were plaguing him. His footsteps were heavy as he walked down the long, sterile hallway of the hospital. His skin still crawled whenever he was any type of facility that resembled the institute. It was the smell. It seeped into his nostrils and reminded him of ugly, ungodly amounts of abuse and hopelessness.

Before he even reached Carmen’s room, he saw Shyla standing just outside the door with her back against the wall as she spoke on the phone. The first thing he noticed was that her hair was down. It looked silky and shiny, like she had spent time carefully brushing it out.

She was nodding and the look on her face was of concentration. But as she sensed his approach, her head jerked toward him. Her whole face lit up and she quickly ended her phone conversation. All fatigue and worry left his body as he was filled with a divine love for her. He could see the love she had for him, whether she was willing to fully acknowledge it herself. And that feeling, that knowing that she loved him as completely as he loved her, filled him with an energy that he had never experienced before. With it, came a determination to overcome his dire diagnosis. Who said it had to end that way?

She walked toward him and he held his hand out to her. Slowly and after a moment’s consideration, she took it.

“You’re wearing your hair down,” he said, “it looks nice.”

“It feels weird. It might take some getting used to, but yeah, I’m trying it out. I guess I’m trying a few new things lately.”

“Well, you look exhausted, too” he said, planting a light kiss on her forehead, “did you get any sleep at all last night?”

Shyla sighed and rolled her shoulders.

“Not much. I was too thrilled with Carmen’s recovery. And I don’t know how she does it, but that girl woke up from a coma like she’d never even hit her head,” she chuckled, “the first hour was slow as she realized where she was and remembered details of how she’d got here, but after that she picked up where she left off and hasn’t shut up since.”

It was good to hear her laugh, Brendan thought, as Shyla looked over his shoulder. Her face shifted and she pulled away.

He turned to see Shawn strolling toward them, his long-legged gait covering the length of the hallway quickly. The look on his face was so easy to read. With jaw clenched and lips drawn tight, he looked like he was trying to control his temper or any reaction at all, but he was having a hard time hiding his true emotions to seeing Shyla in his arms.

Shawn paused with a wide stance, folded his arms and gave them a smirk.

“No need to stop the love fest just because I’m here,” he said, “I saw this coming a mile away. I’m not shocked. I just wanted to check in on Carmen. See how she’s doing.”

Shyla was clearly uncomfortable and Brennan knew she was regretting the public display of affection. He should have known better. There was still a lot going on around them and it would have been better had they kept the change in their relationship from the rest of the world, at least until after he had cut ties with Victor.

“Go on in,” Shyla offered, “she’s awake and lively. I was just having a word with Brennan. I’ll be right in.”

“Sure,” he snorted, “okay.”

With a curt nod, he looked directly at Brennan before walking into Carmen’s room.

“That was awkward,” Shyla said.

“Ah, don’t worry about it. He’ll get over it.”

She furrowed a brow and gave him a sour look.

“So I’m that easy to get over, huh?”

“Not at all,” Brennan chuckled, “but I’m keeping a positive attitude. Besides, he doesn’t love you like I do.”

The expression on her face sobered instantly. She shifted the weight on her feet back and forth; it looked like she was fighting the urge to run away.

“What made you drop by?”

So she was changing the subject. That was fine.

“I wanted to let you know that I’ll be out of town for a few days. With Victor. On business.”

Tilting her chin, Shyla nodded her head.

“You’re not telling,” she said, “and I’m not asking.”

“Good. I like that plan.”

There was something changing between them again and he didn’t know if it was because she was doubting his commitment to quit working for Victor or if she somehow knew that the ‘business’ he was talking about was so much bigger than he was suggesting.

“Look, I need to get back in there,” she said with a nod of her head toward the door. There was still an uncomfortable gap between them. He wanted to close the distance and pull her to him, but he knew she wouldn’t want that. There was something agitating her.

“Sure,” he said, “I should get going anyway. I’m glad that Carmen is recovering so quickly. I’ll get in touch with you as soon as I get back.”

“Sounds good,” she nodded, before turning away.

“Shyla,” Brennan said. She turned.

“Don’t shut me out just because you’re scared,” he said, “I’m gonna do this job, cut ties, and then I’m coming back. To you. And together we’re going to figure out all the rest of this crazy life, no matter how much time we have.”

She softened and gave a slight smile.

“I’m counting on it.”